By Tejiri Ebikeme
THE Delta State Council of the United Labour Congress (ULC), has rooted for a monthly national living wage (minimum wage) of N100,000 to all Nigerian workers effective next quarter of this year.
According to the organized Labour, the current minimum wage of N18,000 being paid to the Nigerian worker is obsolete, unrealistic and without value at this time.
The Chairman, United Labour Congress (ULC), Delta State Council, Comrade Williams Akporeha in his address at a rally to mark Workers’ Day (May Day) said that one of the major catastrophes of an economy in recession is the reduction in the value of the living wage while the worker remains the ultimate casualty.
Our Correspondent reports that after a major carnival round major roads in Warri and Effurun and visits to the Old People’s Home on Bowen Avenue, Warri and St Anne’s Orphanage Home, Enerhen Road, Effurun where various items were donated, the workers gathered at JFK Playground, Refinery Road, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State where Comrade Akporeha addressed them.
He added that;” And left with very weak purchasing power, the worker is constrained to reduce spending due to inflation even while the high cost of production has also led to a significant cut in the quality of goods and services”.
Comrade Akporeha, who is also the current National Treasurer of NUPENG stated that;” It is therefore not an over statement to say that the current minimum wage of N18,000 being paid to the Nigerian worker is obsolete, unrealistic and without value at this time”.
According to him, the situation got worse with the persistent fall of the Naira in its weekly wrestle against the American Dollar until recently when the Naira started wobbling as it stagger to regain consciousness.
“As workers, we must tell the truth to government at all times since we are the engine room of the nation’s economy. The truth is that, with a minimum wage of N18,000, the Nigerian worker has been living in depression even before the recession. It is also important to state clearly to government that the dynamics of elementary economics supports motivation of workers as one of the fastest and easy way to achieve productivity improvement in order to stir up a nation’s economy”, the Labour leader said.
He held out that the current miserable pay to workers in the name of minimum wage can be said to be one of the major root causes of the prevalent graft in our work places today.
Comrade Akporeha said that;”Therefore, if indeed the Federal government wants to win its avowed war against corruption, Congress suggests an immediate review of the minimum wage to workers. This will stimulate money supply and ease the nation out of recession. In this regard, the organized labour is proposing a monthly national living wage (minimum wage) of N100,000 to all Nigerian workers effective next quarter of this year.”
The Organized Labour then called on President Mohammadu Buhari to constitute a committee of relevant organs of government and labour with a view to ratify the proposal and work out modalities to implement across the federation, saying it was achievable in Nigeria.
On Unemployment, Comrade Akporeha said;”We observe that the rate of unemployment have continued to increase in Delta State thereby giving room to some forms of anti-social vices by unemployed persons, particularly the youths. This high rate of unemployment can be reduced if government would consider looking into the civil service with a view to filling up the vacancies created as a result of promotions, resignations, deaths and retirements in the state civil service over the years”.
On Labour Mass Transit Scheme, the State Council of ULC passionately appealed to Governor Okowa for the provision of buses and boats for Mass Transit to cater directly for the transportation problems of workers in different parts of the state.
“For the umpteenth time, Labour is requesting for the payment of 13th month salary to workers at the end of every year as additional incentive to motivate for greater productivity. This has been embraced by employers of labour both in public and private sectors across the country. However, here in Delta State, this agitation has been on for years but is yet to receive the blessing of the state government.
It is my appeal on behalf of the state workforce that the payment of 13th month salary to workers be approved by the State government with effect from this year, 2017. We shall be grateful your Excellency”, Comrade Akporeha said.
