Nigerian Labour Congress has condemned the plan by the Senate to remove the Minimum Wage Law from the Exclusive List.

The move, the NLC said, was inimical to the well-being of the weak and economically disadvantaged persons in the country.

The NLC President, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar, who stated this in a statement on Sunday, added that the initiative had serious implications for national security, productivity and well-being of the low-income earners.

He noted that if given the opportunity to fix their respective minimum wages, state governments would not hesitate to pay minimum wages as low as N1,000 to their workers in spite of the huge resources available to them.

He said “The Nigeria Labour Congress notes with concern efforts by the Senate to remove the national Minimum Wage Law from the Exclusive List in defiance of reason, popular opinion and protection of the interest of the weak and the vulnerable.

“The removal will unnecessarily expose Nigerian workers, especially, those in the low-income bracket, with grave implications for security, productivity and national well-being, as most state governments if given the latitude, will pay wages as low as N1,000 per month in spite of the relatively enormous resources available to them.

“This fear is justified or underscored by the reluctance or refusal of some of them to implement the N18, 000 Minimum Wage Law. Even for some of them that implemented the law, it took a heroic struggle.”

He added that the inclusion of the minimum wage in the concurrent list would lead to confusion, and anarchy in the country.

Omar said the NLC demanded the retention of the Minimum Wage Law in the Exclusive List for the maintenance of a standard national minimum wage as obtainable in the developed world and for protecting the weak and vulnerable workers, in a memo to the National Assembly on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

He noted that in spite of the N18, 000 Minimum Wage, the Nigerian workers remained among the least paid in the world.

Omar said the cost of living in the country had increased with the rise in inflation resulting in abominable costs for food, accommodation, and utilities.

Onyegecha: I think the main problem of the Nigerian worker is that we no longer have brave comrades who can wrestle with the powers that be and get workers' rights. Take a look at the states that implemented the 18 000 minimum wage. How manyt really did it? What have the labour leaders done? Just take a bribe ans damn the workers. pity

Optimisticgondy: God help the masses.

Frank-C:
Ok, if I understand this guy, he is trying to say that wages should remain in the exclusive list of the FG and not devolved to states to legislate on. This clamour raise more questions than answers:

1. How does this position reconcile with NLC position of weaker center and stronger states- Federalism?

2. Is NLC suggesting by this struggle that they trust the FG more than the states that are closer to them?

3. Everyone, including the NLC believes that there is corruption in Nigeria. Normally, bringing government closer to the people reduces the incidence of corruption as the people are closer to the managers of the resources.Can the NLC explain why they don't want the State governments that will pay the salary to be the ones they will negotiate the deals with? Could this be because they are more comfortable discussing with the FG than their state governments?

4. How does this clamour perform when placed side-by-side with the clamour for an independent LG? In fact, what is NLC definition of democracy, federalism and seperation of powers?

I asked these questions because in this country, people like to make empty noise. I don't just get it. Why would Labour minister negotiate a salary deal with the NLC while the salary will be paid in Ekiti from Ekiti purse with all the peculiarities of Ekiti environment which the Labour minister and even the NLC leaders at the negotiation table may not be privy to?

I probably need more information to take a position on this issue, but it doesn't just make sense to me on the face value.

Frank-C:
Ok, if I understand this guy, he is trying to say that wages should remain in the exclusive list of the FG and not devolved to states to legislate on. This clamour raise more questions than answers:

1. How does this position reconcile with NLC position of weaker center and stronger states- Federalism?

2. Is NLC suggesting by this struggle that they trust the FG more than the states that are closer to them?

3. Everyone, including the NLC believes that there is corruption in Nigeria. Normally, bringing government closer to the people reduces the incidence of corruption as the people are closer to the managers of the resources.Can the NLC explain why they don't want the State governments that will pay the salary to be the ones they will negotiate the deals with? Could this be because they are more comfortable discussing with the FG than their state governments?

4. How does this clamour perform when placed side-by-side with the clamour for an independent LG? In fact, what is NLC definition of democracy, federalism and seperation of powers?

I asked these questions because in this country, people like to make empty noise. I don't just get it. Why would Labour minister negotiate a salary deal with the NLC while the salary will be paid in Ekiti from Ekiti purse with all the peculiarities of Ekiti environment which the Labour minister and even the NLC leaders at the negotiation table may not be privy to?

I probably need more information to take a position on this issue, but it doesn't just make sense to me on the face value.

crackhaus:
Yes you probably need more information, and a pair of glasses as well. Where in the original post did it mention a labour minister negotiating a salary deal with the NLC? And BTW, federalism has nothing to do with minimum wage

Okija_juju: Minimum wage should be decentralised..

lordnoah: Fresh air