Makes case for single digit yearly increment
The Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has called on the organised labour and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) to defend the national minimum wage to ensure that it is not abolished.
Governor Oshiomhole who said this yesterday in Abuja at a presentation made to the member s of the National Conference committee on Civil Society, Labour and Sports, called on the CSOs to expand their horizon and fight other forms of injustices in the society.
Oshiomhole expressed surprise that all forms of injustices ranging from arbitrary and naked show of power still reigns in a democratic government like Nigeria.
According to Gov Oshiomhole, the minimum wage is a global phenomenon not necessarily a requirement of the law but aimed at ensuring that salaries do not fall below a particular standard as negotiated by the parties involved.
He said this becomes imperative as a result of societal norms, neighbourhood labour situations such as equal work and equal pay among the same professions and the application of equity, justice and fairness in the payment of workers’ salary.
He said the national minimum wage was set up by government for every employer of labour to adhere to, differentiating it from the national salary scale while urging the state governments to pay the minimum wage.
He, however, acknowledged that some governors were confronted with the challenge of inadequate funds to pay the additional “personnel cost”, hence the reluctance to pay the minimum wage by the governors .
