N30,000 minimum wage: Gains have been eroded by inflation —TUC

AS President Muhammadu Buhari assented the N30,000 national minimum wage into law, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said it was instructive to note that its gains have been eroded by inflation.

Though, the TUC commended President Buhari, the lawmakers and the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) for the new wage, it pointed out that prices of commodities have gone up even when employers have not commenced payment.

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Reacting to the President assent, which finally gave legal backing to the N30,000 new minimum wage, President of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama said the new wage would in no small measure give workers a sense of belonging.

“While the organised labour appreciates the approval of the new wage, it is also instructive to note that its gains have been eroded by inflation. Prices of commodities have gone up even when employers have not commenced payment,” he said.

He called on the 9th Assembly and well meaning Nigerians to prevail on governors to pay workers their salaries and pension to pensioners as and when due to avoid crisis in the industrial sector.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in its own reaction called for immediate implementation of the new N30,000 national minimum wage as assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari; without further delay.

Besides, the congress called on employers, particularly the Federal and state governments, to commence immediate negotiations with the appropriate unions on the impact of the new law on the wage structure with a view to timely and judicious implement it.

The General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson, commended the President for doing the needful.

“We at the Nigeria Labour Congress wish to express our appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the new national minimum wage bill of N30,000.

“However, we would use this opportunity to call for immediate implementation of the law, given the fact that this process has dragged on for nearly two years.”