The Organized Labour has warned some governors not to plunge the country into a state of resentment, misery and impoverishment through wrong pieces of advice to President Bola Tinubu.

It also reiterated that the position taken by President Tinubu on the two proposals before him from the final report of the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage would determine its next line of action.

Recall that while the government team and organized private sector had made an offer of N62,000 on the last day of the meeting of the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage, while organized labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, demanded N250,000 as a new living wage.

Speaking to Vanguard weekend, the Head of Information of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, said the two labour centres would subject whatever figure the President would submit to the National Assembly to the decision of the appropriate organs of the two labour centres.

He also ruled out the option of rushing to strike immediately, explaining that it was not every problem that would be solved with strike, adding that strike was always the last option.

Fielding questions over the agitation in some quarters that President Tinubu had delayed to make a pronouncement on the figure to be transmitted to the National Assembly, Comrade Upah advised Nigerians to tarry a while in making conclusions, contending that the report was sent to the President within the period of Democracy Day and Sallah when some relevant stakeholders had to travel out of Abuja.

He said: “At the time the tripartite committee submitted the report to the President, there was Democracy Day and then the Sallah break, all of which were practically lumped together for the political stakeholders to travel.

“So, on the length of the time taken for the transmission of the executive bill, we have no issue with that, what we are concerned about is what will be transmitting to the National Assembly.”


Asked what will be the reaction of organized labour if the government decided to go with the N62,000 offered by the government, against labour’s demand of N250,000.

He said “Well, let the government come up with it first and then I even want you to note that there is division in the ranks of the government team, with governors saying they can’t even pay the N62,000.
”So, whatever the government transmits to the National Assembly will determine our mood. Let us wait to reach the bridge before we cross it.”

On the allegation that state governors were the obstacle on the new minimum wage and organized labour’s response to the disposition of the governors to a new living wage, Upah said they (governors) having a negative disposition to a new living wage were in the minority but very vocal.

“In fairness, we will not say the state governors are the obstacle, it is a vocal minority in the ranks of the governors that is projecting the governors as bad and dishonest people and we know that minority group.

”Quite a number of governors have come out to say that whatever they say is the minimum wage, we are ready to pay, quite a number of them have said so.

“Our message is to the vocal minority in the rank of the governors, giving the governors a bad name, misleading the President and creating a major social problem in the country. We would warn them to retrace their steps, their behaviour in their state has not enhanced the wealth or capacity of their states.

“We will advise them to retrace their steps, instead of giving a piece of advice that is capable of plunging the country into a state of impoverishment, misery and resentment.

“Quite a number of Nigerians have come out to speak publicly. In fact, out of five Nigerians, four have come out to say labour has a very good case, so government should do the needful and shame the devil,” he said.

On the possibility of labour going on strike, if government remained adamant to pay N62,000, Upah said: “We have said again and again that whatever government offers in the final analysis will be subject to the decision of the appropriate organs of the two labour centres.

Ojuntana:
But why is Tinubu so indecisive on this matter?

It's over a month since he was given the proposals and two weeks since he gave the June 12 speech yet nothing has been transmitted to NASS.

This man is just like Buhari in terms of nonchalance to issues that don't affect him

Ojuntana:
But why is Tinubu so indecisive on this matter?

It's over a month since he was given the proposals and two weeks since he gave the June 12 speech yet nothing has been transmitted to NASS.

This man is just like Buhari in terms of nonchalance to issues that don't affect him

Honestey:
Minimum wage is being dragged fo this long shows how merciless Nigeria leaders are..

Ekakamba:
The problem shouldn't just be the President. The FG can pay 250k to FG workers if they want to. But remember that Labor Union is not just about civil servants under the FG.

helinues:


So Labour are still yet to come down from their high horse?

NaijaCowFarm:

Minimum wage discussions are for workers. Where do you work that you are "chucking" or running your mouth on minimum wage discussion? Cho cho cho on every topic that does not concern you.

ajerimitan:
A man in Kano went to a foodseller.
He had not eaten in 3 days.
He begged the seller for food on credit.

The foodseller said no because he already gave food to too many people on credit.

The man sat down beside the foodseller’s shop as he had nowhere else to go.

The foodseller told him he’s very sorry and he would like to help but too many people in the neighbourhood have collected food on credit and his business is sinking.

The man sat there and said nothing.

As time went on, other people came into the shop to buy foodstuff and went out- they noticed the man at the door sitting there sleeping. But nobody bothered.

Until one man came later in the day and asked the foodseller: “who is the man sitting at your door?” “Why is he there?”

Then the foodseller said “oh it’s a man who says he has not eaten for 3 days and he wants to collect food on credit but I could not give him because my business is struggling from all the credit I have already given out”.

Then the other man said: “How much is the food he wants?”

The food seller said “It’s a few cups of garri, rice and beans. Everything may be 2,000 naira”.

The other man said “Alright pack everything he wants and more. I would pay for it. Let him go home to his family and eat”.

The foodseller packed all the food and went outside to tell the man with joy that someone has paid for his food.

He saw the man still sleeping.
He tapped him to wake him up, he didn’t respond. Tapped him again, nothing.

The man had died.
He died sitting and waiting for help.

This happened just few days ago in Badawa, Kano. Some people who live in that area know this story.

The man was dead all along while people were coming in and out of the shop thinking he was sleeping.

He died hopeless. He died helpless. He died a man who his country failed.

If you know anyone in this period who is hungry around you and you can afford a little food or money to give him/her, please do.

Many people are walking the streets with an empty stomach. I met someone like that just now. This is his account number UBA 2023549524 I have done my bit. Thank you.