THE struggle to ensure governments at all levels, including the private sector, implement the newly signed minimum wage policy may now shift to the states in response to the insistence of some governors that they cannot pay the wage, as some governors are reported to be insisting they will not implement the wage, the leaderships of both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), in consultation with their civil society allies, are taking stock of the situation with a view to tackling it holistically.
In his reaction to the insinuation, Head of Information of the NLC, Chris Uyot, told The Guardian that he would want to believe that Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who was alleged to have said this, was misquoted on the matter.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let me say again that we will instruct state councils to negotiate with their state governments.
“But nobody can fall below the figure that has been agreed upon nor can anybody alter the beginning of the implementation date.
“The signed agreement formed the minimum basis on which subsequent negotiation can be made. The problem with most of our governors is that they don’t like reading.
It was learnt that the insistence of labour on signing the implementation agreement with both the federal and state governments was meant to ensure a documentary evidence against government in case of a breach. A source in the labour circle, who spoke to The Guardian on the vexed issue, said: “I can tell you that even before some of these governors started talking, even after the agreement was signed, we knew all along that some of them will still insist they cannot pay.
“That was why we insisted on having a signed agreement … and a sign of commitment on the part of government at all levels to begin the implementation. Now, labour is strategising on the next line of action to take against these insensitive governors who have become very reckless in the way they conduct public offices.
“Staying in an office is not by compulsion; any governor that sees this as not implementable should simply resign, so that anybody who can do it is given the opportunity to do it. No doubt, the battle line will soon be drawn between labour and these governors at the state level. We promise them many sleeplessness nights.”
The source also said the declaration of inability to pay by some governors cast doubt on those that are in position of authority in Nigeria.
He added: “We have always said it that most of these people in power are after what they can profit from the system and not how to use power to improve the quality of those they claim to serve, adding: “For any governor to say he cannot pay is exhibiting wickedness of the highest order.”
Besides, the NLC officials cautioned Aliyu and Plateau State, Governor David Jang and few others said to be insisting that they would not pay their workers the new minimum wage to do a rethink, adding:
“The suspended industrial/mass action awaits any state governor who refuses to comply with the agreement.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayIn his reaction to the insinuation, Head of Information of the NLC, Chris Uyot, told The Guardian that he would want to believe that Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who was alleged to have said this, was misquoted on the matter.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let me say again that we will instruct state councils to negotiate with their state governments.
“But nobody can fall below the figure that has been agreed upon nor can anybody alter the beginning of the implementation date.
“The signed agreement formed the minimum basis on which subsequent negotiation can be made. The problem with most of our governors is that they don’t like reading.
It was learnt that the insistence of labour on signing the implementation agreement with both the federal and state governments was meant to ensure a documentary evidence against government in case of a breach. A source in the labour circle, who spoke to The Guardian on the vexed issue, said: “I can tell you that even before some of these governors started talking, even after the agreement was signed, we knew all along that some of them will still insist they cannot pay.
“That was why we insisted on having a signed agreement … and a sign of commitment on the part of government at all levels to begin the implementation. Now, labour is strategising on the next line of action to take against these insensitive governors who have become very reckless in the way they conduct public offices.
“Staying in an office is not by compulsion; any governor that sees this as not implementable should simply resign, so that anybody who can do it is given the opportunity to do it. No doubt, the battle line will soon be drawn between labour and these governors at the state level. We promise them many sleeplessness nights.”
The source also said the declaration of inability to pay by some governors cast doubt on those that are in position of authority in Nigeria.
He added: “We have always said it that most of these people in power are after what they can profit from the system and not how to use power to improve the quality of those they claim to serve, adding: “For any governor to say he cannot pay is exhibiting wickedness of the highest order.”
Besides, the NLC officials cautioned Aliyu and Plateau State, Governor David Jang and few others said to be insisting that they would not pay their workers the new minimum wage to do a rethink, adding:
“The suspended industrial/mass action awaits any state governor who refuses to comply with the agreement.”
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