The National Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole has thrown his weight behind the
clamour for a new minimum wage.
Oshiomhole stated that the
refusal to pay new wage will amount to creating poverty for Nigerians.
He spoke at a reception in honour
of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba on
his election as President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
in Abuja.
The former Edo State Governor
also stated that there was no basis for governors to refuse to pay what he
tagged living wage to workers.
He, however, assured workers that
President Muhammadu Buhari will not do anything that will undermine their
welfare.
According to Oshiomhole, “I am
sure you must have read some of my comments on the minimum wage. I have told
people that even I was to become the Secretary General of the United Nations I
am a creation of Labour and I will never, publicly or privately, do anything
that will undermine or do anything that is designed to possibly affect the
welfare of Nigeria workers.
“I am a believer Nigeria needs to
have a National minimum wage. I do not belong to those who say because we are
in a Federation, we should have different wages.
“I join in amplifying that we
cannot apply the principles of federalism separately.
“If we have the National Salaries
and Wages Commission that makes it possible for me as governor of Edo State
presiding over about 4.3 million population to earn the same salary as the
governor of Kano and Lagos state who are presiding over 15 million, that
argument cannot change when it comes to fixing a National minimum wage.
“The primary purpose of
government is the welfare of the people. The most portent asset of the people
is the state that protects you from the oppressor.
“This President is not about to
put that asunder no matter the pressure from any section of governors or state.
“I believe that we have to work
together not only to get wages fixed, but to ensure also that they are paid.
When the President makes public statements like the ones he has made, he has
challenged you to take advantage and make sure that when he provide those
resources as he has done almost four times, you ensure that they are used for
the purpose for which he provided the money. If you don’t, I don’t think you
have someone else to blame.
On state governors refusal to pay
N30, 000 demanded by labour, Oshiomhole said: “Minimum wage is not about party
but about Nigeria.
“When I was a member of the
governors’ forum, I did publicly advise my colleagues then that when it comes
to the issue of minimum wage, I am not with them. Not only secretly but
publicly too, I am going to dissociate myself.
“I believe that we need a National
minimum wage. I believe that Nigeria is capable of paying a National minimum
wage.
“I believe the primary purpose of
government is the welfare of the people and that payment of wages is not a
process of prosperity.
“If Nigeria was to wake up
tomorrow and there is no one liter of oil and you must employ a worker, you are
obliged to pay.
“Wages is a consequence of work.
He who must employ must pay and even the Bible says a laborer is entitled to
his wages.
“I believe this view and I have
canvassed them. I had an extensive interview on this and I spoke extensively on
it.”
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