Why Nigerian Workers Deserve Improved Welfare, Better Wages-Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigerian workers deserve improved welfare, better wages, as well as safe and enhanced working conditions as the driving force of the country,
The president said, “I pay attention to everything around me. A happy worker is a productive worker. And society depends on the productivity of the happy worker.”
He, however, called for realistic expectations as regards the minimum wage question.
According to the president, “You have to cut your coat according to available cloth. Before we can finalise the minimum wage process, we have to look at the structure.
“Why must we adjust wages every five years? Why not two? Why not three years? What is a problem today can be eased up tomorrow.
“There is much dynamism to this process if we are not myopic in our approaches. We can take a surgical approach that is based on pragmatism and a deep understanding of all factors.”
Meanwhile, Ajaero, in his remark emphasized the need for an upward adjustment to the minimum wage, stating, “Between living wage and minimum wage, we need to find a balance. Things are difficult for the Nigerian worker.”
He congratulated the president on the judgement of the Supreme Court affirming the constitutional rights of local governments as regards financial autonomy and other salient principles.
The NLC president said, “I have to congratulate you on the issue of local government autonomy. We have been in the streets protesting for local government autonomy. Now that there is light at the end of the tunnel, it will amount to ungratefulness if we fail to commend you.”
On his part, the TUC president said inflation had adversely affected the value of the naira and the measures initiated by the government to address the rising cost of food and transportation needed to kick in to give citizens relief.
The rollout of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses will help in checking the high cost of transportation, while the recent directive on the suspension of duty on certain food imports will bring down the prices of food items if properly implemented.
Osifo stated, “We commend you on the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court. History will not forget what has happened today. With this judgement, we believe Nigeria will make progress.”
Meanwhile, the meeting between Tinubu and leaders of NLC and TUC over the new minimum wage yielded no result, as it failed to conclude.
Before yesterday’s meeting held at the president’s office at State House, Abuja, the government and the organised private sector had agreed on a monthly minimum wage of N62,000, while organized labour vowed not to go below N250,000 for the least paid worker in the country.
