The Ogun State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) asserted firmly on Wednesday that the proposed N1 million minimum wage for workers nationwide remains non-negotiable.
Addressing reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, Comrade Hammed Ademola-Benco, the State Chairman of NLC, made it clear that the national leadership of the union stands firm on its demands, particularly regarding the N1 million minimum wage.
It is important to note the stance taken by Joe Ajaero, the National President of NLC, during the negotiations with the federal government, where he proposed, among other things, a N1 million minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Ajaero justified the demand based on the surging inflation rates in the nation and the declining value of the naira.
Members of NLC had embarked on a nationwide protest over the economic hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.
Speaking with journalists at the union’s secretariat in Abeokuta on Wednesday, Ademola-Benco lamented that Nigerian workers are among the worst paid in the world.
He said, “One million naira minimum wage was a product of dollarisation, so we are not withdrawing that, except until the FG explains to us why we have to shift ground, we are human beings, we are ready to shift ground.
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“Because I can’t just imagine somebody working in Canada and earning $30 Canadian dollar per hour, if the Canadian dollar is N1,000 that means that person is taking N20,000 per hour and some people here are not earning up to N6,000 per eight hours.
“They must bring everything to the table and explain to us, convince us why we should not dollarise salary of workers in this country”.
Ademola-Benco acknowledged that the nationwide protest achieved its objectives despite facing the withdrawal of its sister union, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other related bodies.