Labour commends Ngige for his refusal to drop National Minimum Wage from exclusive list

…..it would be injust for state governors to tamper with National Minimum Wage

By allcitynews.ng

The Acting National President of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) Comrade (Dr) Tommy Etim Okon, has commended the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige for refusing to dance to the tune of some senstors to drop National Minimum Wage from exclusive list to conclusive list.

Also, the union Acting helmsman describe attempt by any state governor to cut from the National Minimum Wage as unjust and suicidal.

Dr Okon who made this call while addressing labour writers in Lagos recently also identified the subjection of pensioners mostly by some state governments as inhumanity to man.

Wondering if subjecting pensioners to pains and anguish was the kind of reward they should give to those that serve the nation, noted most of those pensioners who live on drugs are being denied their entitlements as when due.

“It is sad the way most of those governors are adding pains to retirees. Most of those retirees now live on drugs, yet, they are being denied the means to buy such drugs or food. It is painful to see pensioners pushed into the society by some governors
without entitlements.”

Also he condmned state governments that have been dragging their feet over payment of the National Minimum Wage. He likewise decried the plan of some state governors to further impoverish the working class by toying with the idea to review the National Minimum Wage down. He warned that such steps by governors was not justifiable, saying: no sane governors will try to cut what federal government has already signed into law. In addition he warned those governors against doing things that would incur the wrath of organised labour.

He read the communique by the Central Working Committee (CWC) of 9 March 2021 which was held in Lagos. The NEC unanimously mandated me to steer the ship of the union till further notice. That decision was subsequently ratified by all members of the National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja on 16 March 2021.

He charged lawmakers to reinforce the law governing employees and employers so that the law would be firmly stamped to the constitution so that Nigerian workers will be able to hold employers accountable whenever they want to renege on the laid-down laws.

“Such state governors should know that the only guarantee to industrial harmony is sticking to the law. Anyone that tried to default will be calling for industrial disharmony.”