NLC rejects northern governors’ plan to ‘break Nigeria’

By John Ofikhenua, Abuja 

NLC President Omar

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday alleged moves by the northern governors to divide the country by imposing a different minimum wage on workers.

It, therefore, asked state councils of the NLC to reject the governors’ ploy. 

In a statement, the Head, Information and Public Relations, of NLC Mr. Chris Uyot said all Nigerians must respect the National Minimum Wage no matter their state of origin because the workers are prepared to reject anything to the contrary.

His words : “ We call on state councils of the labour movement not to accept this ploy by the northern governors to balkanise the nation by imposing a different and less favourable minimum wage on workers.

 “The National Minimum Wage Act is a national law that must be respected by employers and governments at all levels and paid to all workers in the federation, irrespective of state of origin. Anything to the contrary is a contravention of the Constitution and  must  be disallowed and roundly resisted by workers.”

Congress said it was tragic that the Northern governors were attempting to unilaterally repudiate the agreement they freely entered into with the labour movement, and thereby violate the National Minimum Wage Act, because of selfish and parochial interests.

The governors, said Uyot, should realise that the refusal to obey an agreement they entered into in writing, is not only the height of irresponsibility, but an invitation to anarchy.

He claimed that at their recent meeting, the Governors of the 19 Northern states under the auspices of the Northern Governors’ Forum resolved that the issue of wage increase was not part of the National Minimum Wage Act. Accordingly, the Governors intend to pay the minimum wage not across board, but to only those on grade levels 01 – 04.

“This distorted and misleading interpretation of the National Minimum Wage Act is not only atrocious but a betrayal of the thrust of the Agreement signed by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum with the Labour Movement on July 19, 2011, of which the Northern governors were well represented. For the avoidance of doubt and to expose the treachery of the Northern governors, clauses three and four of the Agreement state:

“Detailed negotiations on salary across board will be done with a view to effecting payments by August 2011................

SOURCE:  The Nation Newspaper, 27 September 2011. http://www.thenationonlineng.net