NLC tackles governors over national minimum wage, says enough is enough

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has rejected the notion by state governors that they should be permitted to pay whatever they can as national minimum wage to workers.

Benson Upah, the Congress’s head of information and public affairs in a statement on Friday, June 28, stated that the governors’ notion was responsible for escalating varying dimensions of insecurity.

The statement by Upah reads partly: “The concept of a national minimum wage represents a national wage floor, a baseline below which no worker should be paid.

“This double standard pits a few privileged individuals against the majority poor, which should concern anyone who loves this country.”

“Allowing numerous companies and organizations in Nigeria to pay workers whatever they like is akin to what the governors are asking for.

“While these companies may not pay the same salaries, they must adhere to the national wage floor, and the same should apply to state governors.

“Nigerian workers should not be reduced to beggars! Enough is enough.”

Talks on a new wage has been stalled as President Bola Tinubu seeks more consultations on the matter.

Though the Federal Government and organised private sector, OPS, agreed on N62, 000, the organised labour demanded for N250, 000 but the governor’s are prevaricating.

However the NLC has urged the president not to fall for the antics of the governors, which it described as a blackmail and unpatriotic.

 Aaa