Labour threatens shutting down states reverting to old minimum wage

Organised Labour yesterday said it would not hesitate to shut down states that are now reverting back to paying workers the old N18,000 minimum wage under the guise of COVID-19 pandemic.
The leadership of the two labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants
Nigeria (ASCSN) said the plan is already at the final stage to serve as deterrent to others that might be contemplating it.
Speaking at the 4th Qudrennial Delegate Conference of the ASCSN in Abuja yesterday, labour warned that any Governor found culpable would face the wrought of the whole Nigerian workers who would all team up to fight the injustice.
The labour centres also noted that states that have continued to slash workers salary under the guise of shortage of funds would also face the consequences.
Presently states under the labour radar may include, Delta, Niger, Kano and others.
The immediate past President General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), who is also the outgoing President of the ASCSN, Bobboi Bala Kaigama in his address said COVID-19 should not be used as an excuse to derail the legitimate right of workers.
“The issue of minimum wage is a law that is binding on all employers of labour. Observation of the law in the breach is therefore illegal and will surely meet stiff resistance from labour,” he said.
He noted that some State Governments which negotiated the Consequential Adjustment arising from the minimum wage of N30,000 per month with the Organised Labour in their States and duly signed the agreement that arose from the negotiation have suddenly reverted to the old salary regime (Pre-2019 Minimum Wage), a decision that was unilaterally taken.
“This unwholesome practice is an invitation to anarchy. The affected states are therefore advised to return the salary chart in their States to what was agreed with Labour in the interest of industrial peace and harmony in the States concerned and the country at large,” he stated.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said the Organised Labour would no longer fold its arms under the guise of COVID-19 pandemic and allow the rights of the Nigerian workers to be trampled upon.
He insisted that it is illegal for any state to go back to N18,000 minimum wage and would not encourage any renegotiation in that respect.
“We are not going to fold our hands and we will use the best approach that will bring result. Infact we are ready to shut down states that have reverted to N18,000,” he said.
He stated that labour would follow all the COVID-19 protocols in their planned protests and ensure that all the workers wear mask and well protected.
He stated, “With or without COVID, we are ready to take the battle to their doorstep. The problems we face is occasioned by the greed of the political class.”
The NLC President said that the governors instead of reducing the workers salary should rather use the security votes which they are using for their personal satisfaction to pay workers.
He said none of the governor receive less than N300 million monthly as security votes while some get over N1 billion, adding that henceforth the governors must give account of how the security funds are being used.
Wabba added that the states have received support from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ameliorate and serve as buffer against the effect of the pandemic, wondering why the Governors have to resort to cutting down salary or moving back to the old wages.
“Our wages now have no meaning. We must say no to all these neo liberal policy. Divide and rule has died, labour will continue to work together as Organised Labour to ensure united front in our struggle. Presently we are belaboured with different kinds of taxes, while in some other climes workers are well protected under different social security covers like unemployment benefits and others,” he said.
The TUC President, Quadri Olaleye equally warned that if Nigeria government failed to manage the present crisis emanating from the pandemic effectively, it may not be able to survive the next recession the economy may be plunged into.