The chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Imo State Chapter, Comrade Uche Chigemezu, has revealed that Nigeria has the least minimum wage in the entire globe.
He made the revelation in a television interview monitored in Owerri from the platform of the Universal Heritage Television Naija, an online TV outfit, while speaking on the May Day celebrations and other labour related issues.
The chairman insisted that the minimum wage of 615k per month proposed by Labour is realistic given the present economic realities if they must go home with a living wage. According to him, “Nigeria is the only country in the whole world that pays the least minimum wage”. He maintained that even after that sum it would still not be able take care of the average family of six.
The Imo number one comrade further indicated that the 35% salary award from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Nigerian workers was rejected because it failed the requisite procedure of negotiation.
In his words, “negotiation of minimum wage is something you sit on the round table and not salary award, minimum wage is negotiated and not pronounced”, meaning that what president Tinubu offered was an imposition when it should have been negotiated and agreed upon by both parties.
He took a swipe on the various state governments who have gone ahead pronouncing various amounts to see how best they can win the interest of Nigerian workers.
Chigemezu informed that the impasse between the national leadership of Labour and the Imo State government which strained relationship last year have been laid to rest. “All those grey areas have been resolved and I believe everyone is on the same page and we are good to go”
The NLC boss who also doubles as the chairman of the Nigerian Civil Service Union in Imo absolved the labourers of allegations of corruption, poor productivity, irregular resumption times and all manner of indiscipline. “Whoever is making such allegation did not do his home work very well.”
He utilized the opportunity to indicate that the Imo State government is now walking its talk by paying the gratuity it promised. According to him, over 3000 workers have been paid. The last time gratuity was paid in Imo State was in 2016 during which period many of the beneficiaries have kicked the bucket.
He commended the Imo State governor for striving to meet the workers challenges and expressed delight in the existing cordial relationship.
