N30,000 minimum wage not negotiable, says Wabba

The National president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Com. Ayuba Wabba , has stated that the Nigerian workers will not accept anything less than N30,000 minimum wage from state governors.

Wabba said the new minimum wage has become binding , having been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the excuses by some governors that they can’t pay was not tenable.

He spoke in Ado Ekiti on Thursday at the NLC delegate conference, where the former Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, Ekiti State University Branch, Com. Olatunde Kolapo, was elected as the chairman of NLC in Ekiti state.

Comrade Kolapo emerged unopposed among other executive members that were elected.

Wabba, whose address was delivered by an ex-officio of the Congress, Com. Maureen Onyia-Ekwuazi , said the Congress would not take anything short of N30,000 as minimum wage from state governors since it has become a right.

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“Once the minimum wage bill had been signed by President Buhari, it has become a law and we won’t allow any governor to circumvent the law .

” What we asked for was a living wage and we can’t allow anybody to shortchange our members, ” he said.

Wabba urged the new labour leaders to be resolute and committed in the struggle for improved welfare of their members, saying this should be done without compromise.

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Performing the opening ceremony, Governor of Ekiti state, Dr Kayode Fayemi who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr Biodun Omoleye, promised the readiness of state government to pay the N30,000 minimum wage.

The governor said the newly elected leadership of the trade unions in the state would be invited soon for a meeting on the modalties to ensure the payment.

He announced that all facilities at Government offices would be upgraded while conducive environment would be provided to ensure optimal performance of workers.