NAN-H-54
NLC
By Bukola Adewumi
Abuja, Oct. 07, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Labour Congress (NAN) on Friday staged a protest in Abuja, demanding a decent work environment for workers across the country in line with international best practices.
President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, led the protest which was also to mark the 2016 World Day for Decent Work and has the sub-theme “End corporate greed’’.
At the rally, Wabba decried the incessant delay in the payment of workers’ salaries, adding that the condition of workers in the country was nothing to write home about.
He lamented the fact that salaries were not being paid as at when due, while some states and corporate organisations owed their employees more than 12 months in arrears of salaries.
“Nigerian workers are worthy of their wages. They must continue to earn their wages and we must collectively end corporate greed as people now steal in billions and not millions,” the NLC president said.
He said “it is only in Nigeria that workers pay tax while the elites evade tax without any consequence from the government.
“Why should only workers pay tax? Every citizen must pay tax and, until we end corporate greed, there will always be the gap between the poor and the rich”.
He however reiterated NLC’s demand for an upward review in wages, stating that Nigerians workers are now groaning as a bag of rice now sells for N20,000.
Wabba said it is important that workers in the country work in dignity.
The NLC president said the N18,000 minimum wage was no longer enough to take care of the workers, insisting that the Nigerian leaders were grossly mismanaging the nation’s wealth.
“The gains the country made in the past are being eroded. Poverty is on the increase, while families can no longer meet their needs.’’
Wabba added that for the country’s economy to be diversified to meet present-day needs, there was the need for better infrastructure.
He said power generation would play a significant role in diversifying the country’s economy.
“If we continue to neglect the importance of power generation, the quest for development and growth will remain a mirage,” he said.
Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson, NLC General Secretary, condemned the act of enslaving workers by most organisations in the country.
He called for an end to casualisation of workers, adding that the Nigerian youth must be given decent work.(NAN)
(Edited by David Onilede and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)