Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, a former President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has told the organised labour to insist that all workers in Nigeria must be paid N35,000 wage award to ameliorate the pains occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
He advised the labour leaders to ensure that the money is paid before Christmas to all workers irrespective of whether they work for public or private employees, otherwise, both the public and private sectors must not be allowed to enjoy peaceful Christmas festivities.
READ ALSO: http://Army chief visits Tudun Biri, apologises over drone attack, donates N10m
The former Edo State governor, who spoke at the 8th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Non-Academics Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, in Abuja, said: “NLC threatened strike or something like that because that was not exactly the way we used to do it. Now N35,000 was approved but I don’t know what NLC demanded because it was not exposed to the Nigerian people. The tradition is the National Working Committee and National Executive Council would meet, debate and would say based on this increase, this is the minimum without which we would not accept.
“So, with that decision, it is not the decision of the president. It must be the decision of an organ of NLC which NASU is a prominent member. When we formed LASCO, Labour Civil Society Coalition, we did it for a purpose. Don’t lament the situation.
“Now that you have N35,000, there are workers from different states, are all the state governments implementing it? The answer is no. Why should it be no and why are they at peace? Your members are not at peace in the states. It should not be selective application. The N35,000 must affect all workers. It has to go round all workers in Nigeria whether public or private, that is the logic of nationwide strike.
“The truth is, that demand must affect every worker whether private or public. That is the logic of the demand. Once you have an agreement, it has to be obeyed at all levels.
“Please tell the NLC President that those are the issues that they must solved, so that this December, nobody goes home without that N35,000. Whether such worker is working for the federal, state, local government or the private sector, that N35,000 must be paid. If you don’t pay, there would be no Christmas for you as employer whether public or private sector.”
