*Warns erring governors of consequences
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), South South Zonal Chapter has proposed a minimum 850,000 Naira as new minimum wage for workers in the country.
NLC also advocated impeachment or imprisonment of any state governor who will refuse to abide by the new minimum wage benchmark.
The Chairperson of NLC, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Comrade Sunny James, spoke on behalf of the Zone during the Zonal Public Hearings organised by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (TCNMW) yesterday in Uyo.
James stressed that operational licenses of private sector that may default in paying the new minimum should be withdrawn.
He said, “It is the collective request from the zone that the inflation-dependent model of wage adjustment to 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 fives 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 added.
The Secretary of Akwa Ibom State Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Kinsley Bassey who spoke on behalf of the zone, pegged the new minimum wage at 450,000 Naira and urged government to implement the wage to ameliorate the plight of the workers.
On his part, the TCNMW Chairman, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde stressed that the Committee was keenly interested in receiving well-researched position papers that will aid in making informed decisions.
Oyerinde represented by the Chairman of the National Association of Small Medium Enterprise (NASME), Mr Nnoron Theophilus assured that the divers opinions gathered from both private and public sectors would help to impact the livelihood of the citizens.
In his remarks, the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno promised to cooperate in the payment of the new minimum wage when it is approved.
The governor represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Effiong Essien noted that within one year in office, he has paid workers entitlements to the tune of 14.7 billion Naira.
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