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Minimum wage: NLC, NGF set for showdown as Fayose dissociates self

By on December 6, 2015

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) appeared set for a showdown following plans by the governors to reduce the N18, 000 minimum wage or retrench workers as a palliative measure to curb the present economic recession and dwindling global oil price.

However, Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has distanced himself from the salary cut or downsizing proposal by the NGF, describing it as anti-people. He asked fellow governors to reduce their affluent lifestyle and what they enjoy in office than cut workers’ salaries or resort to mass sack.

Chairman of the NGF, Abdulaziz Yari had told journalists in Abuja that the two options remained paramount to seeking a workable solution to the current economic crisis.

Yari after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, informed journalists that arriving at a practical answer was crucial to industrial harmony.

But speaking to journalists in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, insisted the body would not accept retrenchment or salary reduction.

Wabba said: “We are ready for them, we will resist any attempt to downsize; we are also going to resist any attempt to slash the minimum wage.

“In fact we are going to make these demands because it has been proven that what keeps the economy going is the fact that workers are able to be paid and that they can buy.

“That is how production will continue and that we insist that the issue of minimum wage is a no go area.

“We are talking about reviewing it upward, certainly, we are ready for them; we will shut down the economy if they try that.

“Certainly, we are ready for them; it is not something that we are contemplating. The issue of the minimum wage is something that is dear to us and we are ready to go any length to defend it.”

Also, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has called on Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State and chairman of Nigeria Governor Forum (NGF) to resign from office over his comments on the minimum wage.

JUSUN National President, comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu said in a statement that the called became apt considering denial by Governor Yari’s colleagues who said they never said minimum wage could not be paid over shortfall in  price of oil.

“We are calling on the chairman of Governor Forum (NGF) and Zamfara State Governor,  Abdulaziz Yari to urgently vacate his office for unilaterally saying Governors cannot longer pay minimum wage. Many governors including Adams Oshiomhole, Ayo Fayose, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and a host of others have denied the statement, saying they are yet to take decision on minimum wage and that they didn’t say they cannot pay”.

Comrade Adamu described as unfortunate Yari who was a former member of House Representatives, which should know better that the N18,000 national minimum wage was a product of negotiation by tripartite and an act of National Assembly, which was later sign by the president.

According to him, the Governor should rather worry over chain of aids hired by governors and other frivolous spending in the name of security votes, instead  of talking of workers who could not even do anything with the N18000 due to inflation.

“For the Governor to suggest either mass sack or pay cut is insensitive and should know that such action would attract the full wrath of workers who are already seeking review of the present minimum wage”, he said.

Comrade Marwan also tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Governor to order for making such comment about mass sack, at a time his party the APC is planning to engage on robust job creation.

Fayose said: “Today most newspapers carried the story about call by some state governors that the minimum wage of N18,000 be reduced or that there should be massive retrenchment of workers in the public service. They are on their own and I take exemption to that. The minimum wage is even not enough.

“Reduction of wages or retrenchment of workers won’t happen in Ekiti State. Instead of those anti-labour and anti-people policies, the governors should cut down on their travels and tours and cut down minimum wives and children and their affluence. Let the governors cut their coats according to their sizes.

“Why are they changing the goal post when the match has started? It is an APC agenda. they are in the majority. When they were campaigning, there were indices of the looming economic challenges then, why did they not use that to campaign and see if people will vote for them?

“They should have told Nigerians then that the economy is bad and that they would sack workers and reduce their salaries while campaigning and see if they would win. They cannot just change the rules midway.

“If you sack somebody, it is like cutting down a tree. The person sacked has dependants and himself to cater for. If the government owes, it is better. It will be on record that the government is owing and when the economy improves, we can then pay the workers rather than sacking them and sending them into the labour market. It is not my agenda to sack workers.

 

[ThisDay]