South-South NLC proposes N850,000 as minimum wage for workers

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The South-South Zonal chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has proposed N850,000 as a new minimum wage for workers.

The organised labour equally advocated for impeachment or imprisonment of any governor, who may refuse to abide by the new minimum wage benchmark.

The chairperson of NLC in  Akwa Ibom, Comrade Sunny James, spoke on behalf of the Zone during the Zonal Public Hearings organised by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (TCNMW) on Thursday in Uyo.

James also added that operational licenses of the private sector that may default in paying the new minimum should be withdrawn.

“It is the collective request from the zone that the inflation-dependent model of wage adjustment be adopted.

“Thereby automatically raising the minimum wage for the workers, whenever inflation seems high and hence eradicate the struggle for a new wage every five years as obtained in the developed world.

“Minimum wages should be paid to all workers in the employment of not less than five employees. 

“This act will bring inclusiveness to all Nigerians as exhibited in the composition of the Minimum Wage Negotiating Committee.

“The Zone proposes a penalty for those contravening the minimum wage to include: the impeachment and imprisonment of such erring Governors. Withdrawal of operational license to the defaulting private sector employers,” James said.

The Secretary of Akwa Ibom State Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Kingsley Bassey, who spoke on behalf of the Zone pecked the new minimum wage at N450,000.

Bassey urged the government to implement the wage to ameliorate the plight and suffering of the Nigerian workers.

On his part, the TCNMW Chairman, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said that the committee was keenly interested in receiving well-researched position papers that will aid in making informed decisions.

Oyerinde, was represented by the Chairman of the National Association of Small Medium Enterprises (NASME), Mr Nnoron Theophilus.

He assured that the diverse opinions gathered from both private and public sectors would help to impact the livelihood of the citizens.

In his remarks, Gov. Umo Eno, promised to cooperate in the payment of the new minimum wage, when it is approved.

Eno, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr Effiong Essien said that within one year in office, his administration has paid workers entitlements to the tune of N14.7 billion.