President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday disappointed the leadership of the Nigeria organised labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as he shunned the 2016 Workers’ Day celebration.
The president who was physically absent at the event, however, called on the workers to partner with him on the fight against corruption in the public service as he lamented 16 years of “national squander, bad governance, unbridled corruption and economic woes by the previous administration”.
President Buhari, who was represented by the minister of labour and productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, further decried the economic woes of the country which he attributed to the decline in the price of oil, which according to him, “further exacerbated our economic woes”.
He said, “In this fight against corruption, I need you all to be very willing partners. Fighting corruption in the Public Service in particular, requires the workers to play major roles by cooperating with the Government.”
Some of the labour leaders expected that the president would have sent the Secretary to the government of the federation, David Babachir to represent him.
Minimum Wage: Labour Urges FG To Set Up Tripartite Committee
Meanwhile, the Nigeria’s organised labour on Sunday in Abuja called on the Federal Government to constitute a tripartite committee for the upward review of the proposed N56,000 new National Minimum Wage.
President of the NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, the made the call at the 2016 May Day celebration with the theme: “Working Class and The Quest for Socio-Economic Revival’’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NLC and the TUC had on Tuesday submitted a formal proposal of N56,000 new National Minimum Wage to the Federal Government.
Wabba said that the tripartite committee should comprise government; Federal and State, NECA, the organised private sector, and labour to begin the negotiations.
“During the last May Day, we had stated that as soon as the new government to be sworn in on May 29, 2015 settled down, we would table a proposal for a new National Minimum Wage demand.
“The National Minimum Wage Act which former President Jonathan signed into law in April 2011 has a five year re-opener clause for new negotiations to review the new minimum wage.
“Our proposal of N56,000 is just N4,000 more than the figure we put out for negotiation in December 2008, which was N52,000.
“This represents our awareness about the prevailing economic situation in the country,’’ he said.
Also speaking, the TUC President, Mr Bobbio Kaigama said the present economic hardship and its attendant effects on workers had made nonsense of the National Minimum Wage of N18,000.
He said that the N18,000 National Minimum Wage had been operational for over five years and called for an upward review of the existing minimum wage to N56,000.
“This has become necessary as the present one formally lapsed on 24th March, 2016.
“Indeed, even before we submitted our proposal, we had expected the Federal Government to appoint a committee to handle the issue.
“We anticipate that no state governor would dare claim that his state cannot afford the increase.
“Each state government should be proactive and look inwards to the state’s bountiful alternative sources of income rather than relying only on statutory monthly allocations from the federation account.”
He called on the Federal Government to start the negotiation for a new National Minimum Wage, adding that any further delay would be counterproductive.
READ the speech the president
SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER – IN – CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2016 NATIONAL MAY DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT THE EAGLE SQUARE, ABUJA ON SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2016
Great Nigerian Workers!
Great Nigerian Workers!
I bring you greetings.
It is with great pleasure that I honour the invitation by the two Federations of Trade Unions, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to attend the 2016 National May Day celebrations.
As you all know, this is my first outing in this forum which has a long and historical tradition that are noble and progressive. The efforts of all the heroes past who had fought for the workers of all nations to have a ‘voice’ in determining the course and direction of both national and international issues affecting the state of their being, are commemorated today, the first day of May all over the world. Labour remains unarguably an important element in any policy, programme and project propagated for national development.
This year’s celebration is significant in a number of ways. First, it marks the first May Day celebration under the All Progressive Congress (APC) Administration which brought an end to the sixteen (16) years of national squander, bad governance, unbridled corruption and economic woes by the previous administration.
Second, it is coming at a time when the whole world is experiencing some form of economic crisis or the other. For us whose main foreign exchange comes from oil, the global decline in the price of oil has further exacerbated our economic crisis. The resultant effects of this are noticeable in government dwindling resources, reduction in operational capacities of most companies especially in the Oil and Gas Sector, threats of workforce reduction by multinationals and the escalations of volatility amongst others.
These developments no doubts, have socio-economic implications for the economy as well as the working class. I therefore appreciate the theme you have chosen for this year’s National May Day celebration – The Working Class and the Quest for Socio-Economic Revival. A quest it is, and the realization of the revival is not farfetched. It only requires reasonable time to remedy the maladministration and put forth a change so desired by all of us.
I make no excuses as this Government of the APC is determined to tackle headlong all socio – economic ills that have troubled our nation and we shall evolve solutions to emerging threats to our well being and the realization of sustainable development as well as growth anchored on equity and social justice.
Development must be sustainable for it to benefit society in general. It is therefore the responsibility of those in the citadels of power to align themselves with the working class who make development possible by generating and sustaining the momentum of positive change. That is why the present Administration has sought and will continue to seek the hands of Labour so that together we can attain the enviable heights of progress in our beloved country.
It is for this very reason that I aspired to become President which the Nigerian people have now made a reality. This Administration shall effect positive Change in the lives of average Nigerians, to ensure that the downtrodden are elevated and most importantly to fight the intense pain of corruption which has enriched the very few to the detriment of the majority of Nigerians who groan under the overwhelming weight of poverty and all the superstructural and infrastructural maladies resulting from corruption.
In this fight against corruption, I need you all to be very willing partners. Fighting corruption in the Public Service in particular, requires the workers to play major roles by cooperating with the Government.
I have listened to the speeches made by both the Presidents of the TUC and NLC. By the speeches, you have without any equivocation affirmed your faith in the greatness of Nigeria as a nation. The challenges facing Nigeria have been highlighted and I assure you that they shall be accorded due consideration. It is worthy to note that solution to some of those issues and requests are already being considered and would be made public in the near future. The times may be tough, but we Nigerians are by nature resilient and strong and it is that nature that propels us to overcome adversities and still thrive as a nation.
Let us use this National May Day to celebrate the workers and Nigeria as a Nation. There will always be challenges in the life of a man and what defines greatness is the way and manner such challenges are tackled and overcome. I assure you, great Nigerian workers that this Administration is able and willing to constructively handle the challenges.
In so doing, I request your cooperation and understanding, as partners in progress. The need to ensure a conducive atmosphere devoid of incessant industrial actions becomes paramount to ensure no loss of man – days and accordingly promote high productivity which is perquisite for sustainable development based on increased investments, creation of jobs as well as protection of jobs. I further assure you that working together, this Administration protect workers rights and shall promote incentives for great productivity and hence greater prosperity.
Thank you and I wish you all happy May Day celebrations.
God Bless.
