Daily Independent (Lagos)
Sylvester Enoghase
3 November 2008
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has stated that it is currently working with affiliate unions to determine the appropriate salary increment and other compensation to demand from the government.
The NLC also insisted that the current N8, 000 minimum wage is unacceptable
Reacting to plans by the organised labour to demand decent work and better wages to be incorporated into the 2009 budget by the government, President of the NLC, Abdulwaheed Omar, told newsmen that labour would no longer allow the political office holders to treat the issue of appropriate compensation for public sector in a selfish way.
He said, with the average minimum wage of only N8, 000 in the public sector, Nigerian leaders are not serious about quality, productivity and effectiveness.
"We are currently working with affiliate unions in the public service on the economic reality on ground to determine the appropriate salary increment and other compensation to demand from the government because the current N8, 000 minimum wage is unacceptable," Omar said.
According to him, "the compensation and equipment of the public service remain important imperatives for the organized labour in the country. Comrades, we must demand that Nigeria political office holders must not continue to approach the compensation crisis in the public sector in a selfish way. By increasing their salaries and allowances in large measures and at regular intervals, Nigerian leaders are destroying morale sowing seeds of discord", he added.
According to Omar, Labour must challenge the President and state governors to get serious on the issue of enhanced salaries, allowances and improved conditions of service of public employees.
He said though the public service is critical to the delivery of the policy instrument needed to catalyse the development process, unfortunately, "our leaders do not seem to appreciate the impact of developing an effective public service."
He said the official attitude towards public service has been negative particularly over the last Nine years.
The NLC boss noted that the political elites have tended to regard the public employees collectively as enemies of progress, pointing out that as political leaders, they explain the inadequacies and blame their failures on the public service.
He however assured members of the union that NLC is working towards evolving an efficient and productive public service.
In a related development, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on the government to set development agenda, demonstrate the needed commitment to realise them and have confidence in the ability of the public service to deliver by paying a minimum wage of N30, 000.
TUC's President General, Comrade Peter Esele, who noted that the new context the policy shift is confirmed by the fact that between 1999 and 2008 nearly all companies with a statutory minimum wage have allowed the minimum wage to increase in real terms to improve the purchasing power of their workers without the government working in line with the policy shift called for a minimum wage commensurate with the economic situation in Nigeria
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