Labour unions in Nigeria have insisted that state governors pay the national minimum wage, in spite of their economic challenges.
The President of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Boboye Kaigama made the call in Abuja as part of activities to mark the 2017 May Day.
Kaigama also challenged the governors to look at other means of boosting their internally generated revenue, apart from the monthly allocation from the federation account which they depend on.
He also urged governments at all level to take positive steps to revive the nation’s economy to cushion the economic effects faced by citizenry.
The TUC President hinted that workers have a significant role to play in any country by creating wealth and boosting the socio-economic wellbeing of that nation.
Commenting on the whistle-blower policy of the federal government, Kaigama urged the legislative arms of government to key into the policy, by backing it with law that would protect the blowers.
Also speaking, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the calls by some national assembly members for the removal of the minimum wage from the exclusive list, to retract their statement, as NLC will not accept such an action from the legislators.
Wabba urged the Union members to be the watch dog of the work force, by fighting for the rights and entitlement of the workers at all times.
On his part, the Deputy President of the NLC and the Chairman of the 2017 May Day committee, Peters Adeyemi, appealed to the workers to work toward achieving economic revival and chart a way to a national rebirth, economic recovery as well as advocate for the engendering of socioeconomic policies that are pro-poor.
The theme of the 2017 May Day celebration is: “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: An Appraisal”. – VON.
