NLC demands immediate implementation of Minimum wage, kicks against hike in electricity tariff
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| NLC demands immediate implementation of Minimum wage, kicks against hike in electricity tariff |
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Since the president assented to the new minimum wage bill, series of deliberations by the Federal Government and the union leaders over the relativity and consequential adjustment of salaries have failed to yield positive fruits.
In a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kano, which was released to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, NLC rejected the continuous delay by the Federal Government to commence implementation of the new wage.
NEC noted with dismay the continued delay by the Federal Government and other tiers of government to implement the new national minimum wage of N30,000 as recently enacted.
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“The NEC emphatically posited that government can no longer hide under protracted negotiations with workers in the public sector for consequential salary adjustment based on the new national minimum wage to delay the implementation of the new national minimum wage.
“After very vigorous deliberation on the need to immediately implement the national minimum wage, NEC insists that the payment of the new national minimum wage should commence immediately,” the communique said.
The union leaders raised concerns over the rising insecurity, especially the activities of kidnappers, bandits and communal clashes across the country.
They lamented that victims of the renewed security breaches in the country were workers and poor citizens.
Congress therefore urged government at all levels to improve on the quality of policing and make massive deployment of security operatives a priority in order to ensure the safety of all citizens.
Furthermore, NLC revealed that it has resolved to convene a national security summit to dispassionately engage the current challenge of insecurity in Nigeria and proffer sustainable solutions.
To this effect, a nationwide rally would be held to sensitise government and citizens to the need to address insecurity.
Rejecting the proposed hike in electricity tariff, the NLC NEC called on government to make electricity available and affordable and to further empower the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to prevail upon distribution companies (DisCos) to scrap the practice of estimated billings, enforce relevant laws and guidelines outlawing estimated billings and immediately deploy pre-paid meters to electricity consumers all over the country.
“This would be in line with earlier deadlines given by NERC to DisCos to supply pre-paid meters to electricity consumers in the country.
“It was the conviction of the NEC that continuous hike in electricity tariff and persistent power outages present huge financial burden for businesses, thus making goods and services produced in Nigeria not to be competitive as goods cum services produced elsewhere,” the unionists said.
On Nigeria’s ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), NLC commended the Federal Government for robustly engaging social partners, particularly organised labour and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), but called for a robust negotiation to finalise the clause on “The Rule of Origin” and “Sensitive Products” in order to ensure that goods traded within AfCFTA have significant local content.
“The NEC also implored government to ensure protection of identified sensitive products. This is in order to pre-empt turning Nigeria into a dumping ground.
“We encourage sister trade union centres in Africa to robustly engage their governments on AfCFTA implementation to protect the interest of workers and local economies in the continent,” said the labour leaders.
The communique was signed by NLC President, Dr. Ayuba Wabba and immediate past General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson.
-New Telegraph
