Minimum Wage: Organised labour to demand 2 years arrears payment

The Organised Labour on Wednesday said it would demand for two
years arrears payment of the proposed new national minimum wage for
Nigerian workers from the federal and state governments.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, President Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said
this when Mrs Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary, Public Service
International (PSI), visited him in his office in Abuja.

Wabba said that the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari in
transmitting the executive bill to the National Assembly was
worrisome.

“Workers in the country have made tremendous sacrifice and I
think going forward, we are going to demand for arrears of those
two years we have lost.

“Because I think with all fairness and justice, as they are
going out to campaign we will also go out to campaign for our
minimum wage.

“I also want to inform you that we have passed the first hurdle
and it took us almost a year to be at the tripartite negotiation
table for a figure, and we have agreed on a figure of N30, 000.

“That figure has been transmitted to the Mr President who set up
the committee and we have also told them to forward an executive
bill immediately to the National Assembly.

“We are not unaware of the new tactics by the state governors to
try to arm-twist what has already been done,’’ he said.

Wabba explained that six state governors were part of the
negotiation process, with each representing their geopolitical
zones.

He told Pavanelli how public hearings were held in the zones,
where the state governors were invited to make their inputs.

“So, mutually on the negotiation table, we have looked at all
other factors, especially factors that were provided in convention
131 and 95 of the International Labour Organisation on the minimum
wage in which five factors were considered.

“The issue of the purchasing power parity, inflation, ability to
pay, all those factors were considered and that is how our demand
of N66, 500 was then agreed mutually on N30, 000.

“So, workers have made enough sacrifices as we have lost already
two years,’’ he said.

Speaking earlier, the PSI General Secretary which covers over
170 countries said she was in Nigeria to show support for trade
union movement in Nigeria.

She said workers in the public service were faced with a lot of
challenges especially in Nigeria.

“Working for months, providing services to people without being
paid is something that is unacceptable and this unfortunately what
is happening here.

“In a country which is rich of resources that can have wealth
distribute but it is oppressed by the greater international capital
that wants to grab the resources and forget the people who create
wealth for the country.

“This is very wrong and unacceptable, we must ensure good
governance, social justice for the Nigerian workers, we will
support you anytime you call on us,’’ she said.

She also noted that PSI was in Nigeria to fashion out ways of
assisting the Internally Displace Persons (IDPs).

Related

DSS Arrest Boko Haram’s Medic, Gun-Runners

Following the earlier successes recorded by the Department of
State Services (DSS) in apprehending high profile kidnappers and
gun runners across the country, the Service wishes to further
inform the public of its recent feats.

On 9th November, 2018, at Sabon Birni Village, Igabi LGA, Kaduna
State, a DSS-Military Joint Operation Team apprehended Yusuf SALISU
(aka BALA), a medic for kidnappers and the Boko Haram Sect. Until
his arrest, suspect operated a medicine store and regularly treated
wounded kidnappers or their victims. He is also linked with
thirteen (13) high profile Boko Haram Commanders already on the
wanted list of security agencies. Relatedly, on 7th November, 2018,
at Mararaban-Jos, also in Igabi LGA, another notorious kidnapper,
Muhammad MUSA (aka ZARA) was arrested while perfecting plans to
kidnap a Lawmaker and a prominent personality in Kaduna and Kano
States respectively.

It would be recalled that a suspected gunrunner, Dare OKUNWOLA
(aka BODA) had earlier been arrested by the Joint Team in Jos. His
associates who include Kim DUNG (a local AK-47 Rifle fabricator),
Hubert AKUBULO (aka Okafor), Chidi Ezubebem STANLEY and Elochukwu
Chidiebere OGUABIA have also been arrested. During the operation,
one thousand, one hundred and sixty three (1163) rounds of live
ammunition were recovered from the group. Two (2) other members of
the gang, Bitrus BADUNG and Emeka OBI are still at large.

On 13th November, 2018, at Rafin-Guza, Kaduna State, Umar NUHU,
a member of ISWA and a close associate of Liman MAITUKWANE (the
current leader of Ansaru Group) was arrested by the Joint Team.
This group is responsible for the several attacks on Military Bases
in the North- East. Similarly, on 14th November, 2018, at Gayawa,
Ungogo LGA, Kano State, the Service apprehended Jafar UMAR, a
suspected member of the Boko Haram sect.

In another operation on 16th November, 2018, Shuaibu SHEHU, a
kidnap kingpin and cattle rustler was arrested at Gumel, Jigawa
State while on transit. Items recovered from him were one (1) AK-47
Rifle, one (1) locally made Pistol, two (2) Military uniforms,
sixty-Four (64) cows, four (4) Donkeys and some Rams. Other members
of his gang were also arrested and they include: Abdulkarim DAUDA,
Adamu USAINI, Umar ADAMU, Usaini SHEDE from whom locally made
pistols and two (2) machetes were recovered during a search. On
15th November, 2018 at Fulani settlement, Zango Village, Lokoja, a
suspected kidnapper, Ibrahim MUHAMMADU, who has carried out several
kidnap operations in Kogi state was arrested. His latest victim was
a nine (9) year old boy, Beddi MUHAMMADU earlier kidnapped on 4th
November, 2018.

The arrest of these suspects further signifies major
breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and terrorism. The
Service, therefore, pledges to sustain these efforts aimed at
ridding the country of all forms of criminality. Every law abiding
person is enjoined to be patriotic and volunteer useful information
that will help accomplish this task. While extending gratitude to
sister agencies whose unrelenting efforts have guaranteed these
successes. The Service is confident that adequate security will be
emplaced during and after the yuletide and election periods.

Peter N. AFUNANYA
Public Relations Officer,
Department of State Services,
National Headquarters,
Abuja