Members of National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), affiliate body of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have threatened to proceed on nationwide strike over alleged delay by the Federal Government to urgently commence process for upward review of national minimum wage.
The group made the disclosure in Kaduna, in a statement issued by the National President and Secretary, John Adaji and Issa Aremu. In the statement, the Union admonished the Federal Government to quickly constitute a committee on the review of the minimum wage or face industrial action.
The statement warned that "as demonstrated by workers during the May Day in Abuja, Nigeria risks national industrial crisis, except governments at all levels give due attention to the critical issue of compensation of workers. Hungry workers are legitimately angry workers."
While commending the National Assembly for their efforts in facilitating upward review of the minimum wage, the Union noted that ''the Minimum Wage Act of 2011 which offers the current N18, 000 was meant to last for a five-year cycle due for review in 2015. The period was to avoid minimum wage stagnation and attendant seemingly increases that follow''.
The Union regretted that long before the current recession, Nigeria workers have long been in depression because of Naira devaluation and high inflation.
Acting President Yemi Osibanjo is set to ensure that the 2017 budget implementation takes effect immediately with his assent to the Appropriation Bill passed into law last week by the national Assembly. In a story published by the Vanguard, it was revealed that the Acting President gave indications that assent to the bill will be immediate.
In a related development, a Member of the House Committee on Appropriation and member representing Makurdi/Guma federal constituency, Hon. Dickson Tarkighir allayed fears over the powers of the Vice President to assent to the Bill. Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Tarkighir noted that section 145 of the 1999 Constitution was clear on the powers of the Acting President including the signing of the current budget.
