The Organized Labour in Kwara State has called on the state government to quickly constitute a committee towards implementation of a new minimum wage for workers.
Speaking at the May Day celebration in Ilorin on Wednesday, the state NLC chairman, Comrade Muritala Saheed Olayinka and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Olufemi, said that the committee when set up should take cognizance of gender.
Murtala appealed to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to set an example as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, by implementing the Federal Government minimum wage when it is passed into law.
“It is my pleasure to be part of this year May-Day celebration which
coincides with the year of minimum wage implementation. Therefore, I urge the government to quickly constitute the Minimum wage Committee as we will continue to do our best to face and address every challenge that comes our way in the course of discharging our legitimate duties in line
with the mandate given to us.
“We once again want to urge the state government to constitute minimum wage committee which will take cognizance of gender.
“We want to use this forum to appeal to your Excellency to set an example as a Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum by implementing the federal government minimum wage when it is passed into law,” he said.
The workers also enjoined the state government to provide palliatives to the citizens of the state.
Also speaking, the state caretaker chairman of the TUC, Comrade Olufemi, asked the state government to form the state minimum wage committee and inaugurate the committee immediately before the pronouncement on the minimum wage by the president of the country.
“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians particularly, the Nigerian workers that it is committed to the welfare of Nigerians, and that, has shown in his actions by the constitution of the national minimum wage committee to look into the adjustment of workers’ salary in the country.
“The Trade Union Congress, Kwara State council in line with the national headquarters believe
that the committees will look into economic indices and give Nigerian workers an enhanced minimum wage package as presented by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria at the ongoing minimum wage committee level.
“To fast track the process, we want to request for the composition of the state minimum wage committee and its inauguration immediately before the pronouncement is made by the president of the country, in line with the provision of the extant labour law, respective circular and responsibility of the state Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union side), the Government officials to fast track the implementation of the new national minimum wage and the consequential adjustment for workers in the state,” he added.
Constitute minimum wage committee now – Organised Labour to Kwara Govt