Of law, workers and minimum wage

THE proposed “no work, no pay” law by the National Assembly essentially outlawing workers’ strikes across the country, is uncalled for in a democratic dispensation.

The best law that the NASS can make is to compel all tiers of government not to owe any category of workers salaries and allowances. That done, the NASS would have automatically outlawed workers’ strikes.

Workers have an inalienable right to their monthly salaries and wages. Gone are the days when Decree 4 outlawed speaking on certain national issues. Some journalists became scapegoats following the decree.

In the same vein, it is saddening that the  federal lawmakers proposed a N30,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers when the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) bargained for N56,000 to enhance workers’ welfare. This is an insensitive gesture considering that the lawmakers take millions of naira home monthly.

How much satisfaction will a N30,000 minimum wage give workers with the inflationary trend in the country?

That explains why the best professionals among the workers  fly abroad in search of greener pastures.

The NASS must improve workers’ welfare