At a time some states are still grappling with implementing the current national minimum wage, the Vice-President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu, has demanded for an upward review of the N18,000 minimum wage, arguing that it is no longer sustainable under the prevailing circumstances. According to him, the minimum wage is due for review by next year.
Delivering a lecture titled, “Human Resource as a Critical Factor in National Development”, at a dinner organized by the Third Estate Organisation in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, Aremu, who is also the Secretary General of the National Union of Textile Garment Workers, said the minimum wage should not only be increased next year, but that salaries must no longer be delayed.
The labour leader described delay in the payment of salaries as “wage theft”, pointing out that there is no excuse for delaying workers’ salaries. He was of the view that labour is critical to national development and growth.
While disclosing that candidates in the 2015 elections would be judged by their treatment of workers, the NLC Vice-President posited that there should be reward for performance and sanction for non-performance.
He flayed the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State from the Labour Party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), calling on him to resign his position as governor.
Aremu further appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to hasten up the implementation of the recommendations of the National Conference, especially where it recommended barring politicians from defecting from one party to another. He stressed that the practice distorts the political process and should be discouraged.
“President Jonathan can’t violate the recommendations of the committee he set up,” he said.
While commending him for bestowing a national award on the designer of the Nigerian national flag, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi and placing him on life salary, the comrade requested that he should be paid his arrears from the time he designed the flag.
