NLC, cleric disagree with governors

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra, Mr Jerry Nnubia, has advised state governors against moves to stop the payment of N18, 000 minimum wage to workers.

Also, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor of the Catholic Diocese of Awka , said that slashing of workers’ salaries was “another national tragedy” in the making.

The duo expressed their views in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Monday.

They said that such an action would be both counter-productive and a disservice to Nigerians.

The NLC chairman, Nnubia, said that the governors should rather look inwards on ways to diversifying the economy and improve the internally generated revenues in their various states.

“Whenever there is any economic down turn in the country, the leaders begin to target the civil servants who contribute to the nation’s wealth.

“The people who hardly benefit from the oil boom should not be the ones to suffer the economic doom.

“What have the leaders done to cut their excesses in terms of their bogus contracts and the retinue of aides,” Nnubia said.

The chairman warned that the union and workers at large would resist any attempt by the state governors if they forge ahead to cut down the payment of N18, 000 minimum wage.

“We are ready to give them a fight against their move if they do not rescind their plans,” Nnubia said.

Also, Bishop Ezeokafor, who described the state governors’ move as a “disaster in waiting”, blamed corrupt leaders for the economic woes bedeviling the country.

“The threats we are receiving today are results of the mismanagement of the natural resources by past corrupt public office holders.

“Some people, who ought to have maximised the nation’s resources, cornered the nation’s wealth into their pockets.

“We should be clamouring for a living wage for workers and not pay cut on the N18, 000 minimum wage which is not enough for the civil servant to solve their social and economic challenges,’’ he said.

The cleric however, commended the Federal Government’s move to pay N5, 000 monthly to unemployed youths, noting that it would help to cushion the effect of the challenges in the economy.