Minimum Wage - Organized labour and its civil right ally, Labour and civil society organization (LASCO) yesterday debunked claims by critics that workers in the country failed to live up to expectations on the warning strike for minimum wage billed to start from Wednesday, insisting that workers did not chicken out, but considered the unity of Nigeria first, as the only necessary condition for the nation to move forward. The workers' leadership also claimed that the strike was shelved, apart from the fact that Government has agreed and signed to pay the minimum wage, but as a result of the presence of the British Prime Minister, David Cameroon in Nigeria as well as the Boko Haram security challenges in the country.

Speaking on the importance given to the country on the shelving of the warning strike, despite Government, at the tail end of the struggle bowed before workers, the LASCO general Secretary, comrade Abiodun Aremu called on critics to look inward on how the nation's leaders speaks at both sides of the mouth in governance.

He said "The leadership of Labour and LASCO did not chicken out of the minimum wage strike, but considered the unity of Nigeria first, as the only necessary condition for the nation to move forward"

"The presence of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron in the country and the attempt to double trade with its erstwhile colonial master, the strike would have caused the country a huge fortune", he added.

"Also the Boko Harram security challenges in the country was another necessary condition considered", he further said.

Echoing the voice of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and the President General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Aremu said " The new wage would be paid from August 1 while arrears would be paid not later than August 31.

He assured workers that they would not be victimised for any reason in any manner or form as a consequence of the implementation of the new wage.

He noted that in line with the agreement reached with the Federal Government and State Governors, Labour before labour resolved to suspend the 3-day warning strike across the country, the Federal Government agrees to comply with the New National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2011.

"It was also resolved that the Federal Government shall conclude negotiations with Labour on the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage not later than 31st July, 2011, while detailed negotiations on the relativity implication(s) of the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act, 2011 will be concluded not later than 31st July, 2011", he added.

He however said "All parties agreed that the new wages will be implemented with effect from 1st August, 2011, while the arrears of the new wages with effect from 23rd March, 2011 will be paid not later than 31st August, 2011, and that no worker shall be victimized in any manner or form as a consequence of the implementation of the New National Minimum wage"

Also, the General Secretary of National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (NUBIFIE), Comrade Elijah Ola, while adding his voice said "The position of labour displayed commitment, dedication and sacrifice to the growth of the country".

"Labour has always been considerate if look at the history of minimum wage in this country. The N18, 000 minimum wage issue has been on for over two years now. We gave ultimatum but it was not honoured. On several occasions we extended hands of fellowship but were rebuffed by government. Strike is always the last resort. Before we go on strike we must have exploited all other alternatives", he added

The labour leader insisted that there was no way labour could have betrayed the confidence reposed on it by the workers.

He explained that by the end of August as agreed if workers does receive their minimum wage with corresponding arrears, labour will not hesitate to call out its members to the street again.

He however said " We also have implicit confidence in those negotiating at the Abuja axis, bearing in mind that those who negotiated were civil servants who knew that the implementation of the new minimum wage will affect their gratuity and pension when they retire from civil service. So the issue of betrayal is not there at all.

"The ethics of negotiation is such that any time an agreement is reached and acceptable to both sides you suspend, and that is what labour has done. That the strike was suspended Tuesday midnight does not mean betrayal because that was when agreement was finally reached,"

On his part, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Babatunde Ogun, said, the decision by government to implement the new on workers on Level 1-6 was wrong.

He said such selection implementation was illegal going by the provisions of the Act, adding that it could disrupt decent works ethics and efficiency drive in wage relativity which could dampen workers motivation and moral towards productivity and effectiveness.

His words: "Government at all levels and the private sector must implement the minimum wage law and pay the wages as provide by the law. It is a law and it must be obeyed by employers in both the public sector and the private sector.

"For the government not to obey the law, it must first repeal the law. In the process of repealing the law, the government must first repeal all laws that govern payment of salaries, allowances and other emoluments to all political office holders, judiciary and others earning jumbo pay in the country. Drastic downward review of their emoluments is a prerequisite to any discussion on ability to pay or not."

The PENGASSAN president insisted that all state governors and employers of labour must implement the law.

Ufomba Uzuegbu

Daily Champion/21/07/2011