Minimum wage: Ondo workers protest

Workers in Ondo state under the umbrella of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday, joined their counterparts across the nation to protest over the upward review of the national minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000.

The workers who converged on the Oyemekun road as early as 7 am moved to the governor’s office in Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo state capital, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to forward the bill on the salary review to the National Assembly for implementation.

Speaking during the protest, the  NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said the protest became imperative to press home the workers demand for the upward review of the new minimum wage.

Wabba who was represented by a National officer of the NLC, Mr Yemisi Bamgbose, said the protest was about implementation and therefore, saying it has no link with the transmission of the bill or any political parties.

In a letter addressed to the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, the union stated that “the National Minimum Wage, comprising the government, organised private sector and organised labour has concluded its work and submitted the report with a draft bill to President Muhammadu Buhari on 6th November 2018.

“It is also noteworthy that six governors were members of the committee that worked out the new National minimum wage.

“Therefore, it stands to reason that the report and draft bill were the collective efforts of the broadest spectrum of all concerned parties and should thus commend the support of every governor.

“The organised labour would wish to obtain from your excellency a commitment to the speedy implementation of the new national minimum wage of N30,000 when enacted into law.

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“While counting on your excellency to make the best endeavour to express agreement with this patriotic, convey our polite gesture to your colleagues the enlightened public, generally and advance the cause of the new national minimum wage, we advise that: the political behaviour of Nigeria workers is contingent upon the commitment to the expeditious enactment of the new national minimum wage by the legislature before the polls.

“Nigerian workers as voters will indeed take their eventual fate to the polling stations and indicate in the ballot their views on the faithful implementation of the new minimum wage by the executive before the polls.

“Nigerian workers and family will not and cause friends and allies not to vote for any candidate in the forthcoming elections who hesitate or refuse to commit to the national minimum wage.

“For the avoidance of any iota of doubt, the fate of the new national minimum wage will largely determine the electoral preference of Nigerian workers in 2019”.

Responding on behalf of the state government, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ifedayo Abegunde, said the present administration in the state would continue to give adequate attention to the welfare of the workers in the state.