Minimum wage: As comrades go spiritual in Kwara over implementation…



The leadership of organised labour in Kwara state are embarking on a three-day fasting and prayer to seek God’s intervention towards the implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage in the state. UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB reports.
Leaders of the organised labour in Kwara state last week Wednesday commenced a three-day fasting and prayer programme to seeks God’s intervention for the implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage in the state.They equally implored workers to do same between Wednesday February 5 to7.The decision to resort to prayers followed the breakdown of negotiation between minimum wage committees set up by the state government and representatives of the organised labour in the state.


In the beginning

Labour had complained about the composition of members of the  committee earlier constituted by the Head of Service to work out a timetable that would be adopted in the implementation of the new wage regime in the state.Therefore, following the complaint raised, the government expanded the committee to accommodate more interests.
But despite the expansion of the team, the state government and the negotiating committees comprising representatives of the organised labour could not agree on the consequential adjournments table after meeting for more than three times in a week.

Mobilisation

Consequently, on Monday this week, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) called for a joint congress held at the labour House where they asked the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) to brief union leaders about the latest development on the issue.The congress, it was gathered, was the second to be conveyed by the labour movement in less than one week following rising temper from workers that the leadership of the organised labour in the state has been docile on the matter.
Rising temperThe atmosphere was charged at the congress which was jointly presided over by the state NLC chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore and his TUC counterpart, Kolawole Olumo as leaders of the various affiliate unions who spoke at the meeting expressed displeasure over the delay in the implementation of minimum wage in the state.

Labour ‘s resolution

After extensive deliberation at the congress, labour leaders resolved that the union and all workers in the state should embark on fasting and prayers for God’s intervention.
They also handed down 14- day ultimatum to the state governor, Mallam AbdulRhman AbdulRasaq, to intervene and resolve all issues delaying the implemention of the new wage.
In a communique issued at the end of the joint congress, the organised labour also debunked claim by the state commissioner for finance that the committee has concluded on the table for the new minimum wage in the state.
The communique was jointly signed by the state NLC chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore, TUC chairman , Kolawole Nasir Olumoh and chairman, joint negotiating committee (JNC) Saliu O Suleiman. It reads, “The entire workers in Kwara state appreciate the unity/doggedness and resolute of the labour leaders and promised their full support to achieve our set goals.
“On the issue of minimum wage committee meeting, the labour representatives at the committee rejected the table by the government in totality and wish to inform the workers that its meeting ended in deadlock.
“The meeting resolved that the state governor should be given 14-days ultimatum starting from 31st January, 2020 for him to intervene and resolve all issues related to minimum wage.
“The labour movement in Kwara state wishes to debunk the submission of the commissioner for finance on Sobi FM that the committee has concluded on the table for the new minimum wage in kwara state.”Workers in the state are implored to go on 3-days fasting and prayers for their demands on the minimum wage to be achieved starting on Wednesday 5 to 7thFebruary 2020.
“In view of the above therefore, the labour movement should not be held responsible for any industrial action that may be deployed to press home our demands”.


Kwara govt raises concerns

However, in a swift reaction, the state government in a statement issued by the chief press secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, raised concerns about the implications of hard line posture demonstrated by labour.The statement said government has made fact-based presentations to the labour unions on what it can afford without going to borrow to pay salaries. It appealled to union leaders to temper their demands with the financial realities of the state which they are privy to.


According to him, “The proposal includes that no worker will earn below the 30,000 minimum wage enacted by the Minimum Wage Act. We also made suggestions on the consequential adjustments as they affect the other cadres.”Our initial proposal to the labour which they have rejected means that Kwara will now spend 85% of its allocation on public sector workers alone, up from the current 75%, while well over 3.450 million Kwarans will struggle with the remaining 15% percent. This is very scary and hardly sustainable if we want to develop.


“We will continue to appeal to labour union leaders to temper their demands with the financial realities of the state which they are privy to.”Indeed, the state government will soon make them a new offer based on the emerging realities of the state. It is important to note that the 2020 budget had been predicated on $57 per barrel of crude oil. But today the price of crude oil has fallen to $54 and that means the financial projection of the country and indeed the state has been seriously altered.
“Nonetheless, we believe that the labour union leaders and indeed the entire work force are patriotic citizens who fully appreciate the peculiar situation of Kwara at the moment. We urge the workers’ unions to kindly see reasons why we cannot afford to go borrowing to pay salary in the face of yawning infrastructural deficits and underdevelopment.”
While the workers look forward to the expiration of the 14 days ultimatum handed down to the governor to intervene and ensure that all issues relating to minimum wage are resolved, the political class in the state are equally eager to see how the governor would resolve the issue amidst rising crisism from the opposition.

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