Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero has declared that the present minimum wage of workers in the country is a starving wage and the need for a review can never be overemphasised.
Ajaore, the NLV President stated this on Thursday at a one day North-East public hearing organised by the Tripartite Committee on the new national minimum wage in Yola, Adamawa state capital.
He noted that “the present reality of the country has made it impossible for Nigeria workers to meet up their responsibilities and therefore the need for new wages can never be overemphasised”.
Ajaore who is the chairman of the North-East zonal public hearing said that the meeting was meant for stakeholders to present their proposals which will be discussed at the committee level so as to present a true reflection and yearnings of the Nigeria worker both in the public and private sectors.
According to him, “this engagement, we hope to also have a public hearing with the market men and women in the nearest future”
The meeting which had presentations from all the states in the North-East subregion unanimously agreed that whatever amount is reached at, there should be a review every five years.
In his speech during the meeting for the upward review of the minimum wage, Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed said that, “the hardship Nigerians are facing is terrible”.
He urged all leaders across board not to relent in offering the best way out of the problems.
Governor Bala advised that ” in reviewing the minimum wage, I urged to identify with the enormous challenges of governance which is saddled with a number of responsibilities that need its immediate intervention urging all the stakeholders to look at the multi-dimensional responsibilities of governments while making their inputs”
He thanked president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for agreeing to set up the tripartite committee which is a response to the need for him to carry all people especially civil servants along in the wake of petrol subsidy removal.
The host Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri said the workers clamour for more pay is cogent, logical and legitimate in view of the current economic realities in the land.
Represented by his deputy, Professor Kelatapwa Farauta, Fintiri reaffirmed the commitment of his government to continue to champion the rights of the workers and reposition the civil service as the engine room of the government.
He noted that while the government is keen to increase the minimum wage, workers should also understand that the state government is facing other key challenges across the state and other sundry responsibilities urging the workers to be considerate in their demands.
Meanwhile, both the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN Adamawa state Chapter and the Muslim council have advocated for over N4000,000 per month as minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
They also made a case for a unified basic salary structure for both the public and private sectors across the country.
Participants at the public hearing also recommended that the Oronsonyi reports be implemented within the tiers of Government which will cut costs of governance.
They made a case for food security policy to be adequately enforced so as to enhance high productivity in public and private sectors,the workers need to be motivated for hard work and honesty by reintroducing awards and prompt promotions.
In attendance at the public hearing were, the Governor of Bauchi state, Senator Bala Mohamed, Deputy Governor of Adamawa state, Professor Kaletapwa George Farauta, Heads of service of Borno,Yobe,Gombe and Taraba States.
About 18 selected associations presented their positions on the new National Minimum wage in the country.
