Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has proposed the sum of Eight hundred and fifty thousand Naira as new minimum wage for workers in the South -South geopolitical zone.
Chairman of NLC, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Sunny James presented the position of the zone on Thursday in Uyo, the state capital during the zonal South- South Public hearings organised by the Tripartite Committee on National minimum wage.
James stated: “The standard of living for every worker has become suicidal and strangulating. Every single item a worker depends on for sustenance has gone out of reach- Foodstuffs , transportation, school fees, accommodation, medical care, clothing, even ordinary satchet water.
“There is hunger and anger in the land necessitated by the unfavourable policies of government, thereby reducing the purchasing power of workers in relation to the extant National minimum wage. The increased crime and insecurity is also associated with the increasing economic hardship.
“The leadership of Congress therefore posits that in order to ensure social stability, increased productivity and to adhere to the global requirements of decent work, the following socio-economic inductors must be considered as we review the ,2019 minimum wage.
“The cost of living per day, housing/accommodation, Transportation/utility, Health, Educational etc. Using the above key indicators for measurement and considering that the comparatively high cost of living peculiar to the oil -producing areas, a consequence of oil exploration and mining activities, the South-South zone hereby proposes a New wage of Eight hundred and fifty thousand Naira (850,000.00) only”
Continuing, state Chairman of NLC, recommended that the minimum wage should be retained in the exclusive Legislative list.
“Further recommendations include that: 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 workers.
” The zone proposes a penalty for those contravening the minimum wage to include the impeachment and imprisonment of such insensitive/inhuman Governors, withdrawal of operational license to the defaulting private sector employers .
“Let me commend the organisers of this exercise for their diligence, resilience and proactiveness in taking steps to ensure the emergence of acceptable New National living wage for Nigerian workers”
In its memorandum the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA),stated that it supports the demand of N850, 000 minimum wage as proposed by the NLC.
Akwa Ibom State Chairman of NMA,
Prof (Mrs) Emem Abraham
who presented their position, however, noted that the Consequential adjustment was of utmost importance to NMA as it benefits the members.
“We hereby call on this honourable committee to recommend immediate implementation of Consequential adjustment with the payment of the new minimum wage to avert cheating of senior civil/public servants and possible industrial harmony”, Pro Abraham said
In his remarks the State governor, Pastor Umo Eno who noted that the welfare of Akwa Ibom workers had always been in government’s priority list, assured that the state would oblige the outcome of the hearing.
Eno who was represented by Head of Service, Elder Effiong Essien stressed, “It is on record that in the 2019 new minimum wage implementation effort, Akwa Ibom State was the first to inaugurate the state implementation committee.
“In line with the spirit and intent of the ongoing revision of the National minimum wage to provide a living wage, I wish to assure that my state, Akwa Ibom will align and oblige the outcome as usual, when the input from the hearings shall have been collated, considered and enacted into the Act by our Legislators.
“Let me acknowledge and commend the fatherly disposition of His Excellency, the President, Asuwaju, Bola Tinubu for being sensitive to the plights of the workers and Nigerians as a whole in setting up the process for the improvement of a new minimum wage.
“Chairman and members of the committee and the organised labour deserve appreciation for ensuring an accelerated and hitch-free process “
Similarly ,governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa state who was represented by the Head of Service, Barr (Mrs) Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeoma, said: ” I want to thank His Excellency the President for setting up this committee in recognition of the plight of the workforce and the need to engage the stakeholders.
“We appreciate the workforce of Nigeria because without the workforce government cannot do anything. Having listened to all the presentations I want to encourage us that as a government whatever harmonious review that would be done we will be willing and ready to abide by it”
In his brief remarks, Secretary to the Committee, Ekpo Nta (Esq) , appreciated all participants at the public hearings especially the royal fathers stressing, “We thank you for making this exercise very wonderful. I thank the host government for making the arrangement we have seen here today.
“While sitting here I am monitoring what is happening in the other five geo-political zones and I can say I will go home very satisfied that Akwa Ibom State has done something very commendable “