The Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has knocked Nigerian governors over their comment on the increase in the minimum wage of Nigerian workers, News About Nigeria reports.
Benson Upah, Head of the Department of Information at NLC, stated this while speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Monday.
He accused the governors of mischief, adding that they do not mean well for workers in the country and are throwing spanners in the works of the congress.
Recall that in a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and other government officials, the federal government stated that it is committed to paying more than N60,000 as the minimum wage.
However, the 36 state governors, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), stated that the proposed N60,000 minimum wage is not sustainable and cannot be implemented.
According to the governors, if they sustained the proposed N60,000 minimum wage by the Federal Government, many states would spend all their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations on just paying salaries, with nothing left for development purposes.
Reacting to this, Upah warned that it is easier to manage the rage of organised labour than that of Nigerians.
“The governors driving this mischief—we know them, and you can count them on your five fingers. These governors do not mean well, and they are throwing spanners in the works. While the Federal Government has moved slightly to N62,000, they are saying they can’t even pay the N60,000 that was initially proposed, which is an act of mischief, and the numbers are against them.
“It’s a fact that what they share as FAAC has moved from N700b to N1.2trn and is climbing, and the states are very rich now.
“The issue is not about labour being difficult; we’re talking about something practical, testable, and reasonable. One thing I will say is that the rage of Labour will be easier to manage than the rage of Nigerians, even as we speak for and on behalf of these weak Nigerians.
“However, if they push Nigerians to the point that they have to live the life of a jungle, we’ll all become victims. A time shall come that is not too far away where you have to peep from your window three to four times before you step out of your own room,” he stated.
