2019: Workers should bargain with N30,000 minimum wage –TMG

…sets agenda for candidates

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has urged Nigerian workers to use the N30,000 national minimum wage as a bargaining tool for the 2019 General Elections, saying any government who cannot pay workers should have no business in governance.

The chairman of TMG, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a two-day dialogue session on citizens charter of demands organised by the organisation for north-central stakeholders.

She expressed concern over the irregular payment of salaries especially by state governments.

According to her, not paying salaries is a recipe to vote-buying and threat to free and fair elections in 2019.

She said independent findings by the TMG across the 36 states showed that the welfare of Nigerian workers, poor health and education were common denominators affecting the average worker.

She said the dialogue session was also aimed at setting agenda for political parties and candidates contesting for the 2019 elections.

“The dialogue is part of the meeting we are having from zone to zone to get the views of Nigerians on what they expect from people who are contesting the 2019 general elections.

“We are developing the citizen’s charter for the 36 states in Nigeria and we are having the seven states in the North West together in Abuja.

“What is N18, 000 minimum wages? How can workers be collecting less than $50 for one month and most of these people have average of four children. It will be irresponsible for any government not to prioritise the welfare of workers.

“It is therefore very important for Nigerian workers to use the N30,000 national minimum wage as a bargaining tool for the 2019 elections.

“The government can’t hold the workers accountable for low productivity and attitude to work because they themselves are also not accountable.

“If workers are not paid, they become very vulnerable to any government in power because it is the government that is ready to satisfy the leadership. So, the N30, 000 minimum wage should be the agenda of workers in 2019,” she said.