Workers Day rally..breakdown over minimum wage
Some lawyers in Lagos on Wednesday appealed to the Federal Government to yield to the demand of the labour over the N30,000 minimum wage.
The lawyers, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), also urged the labour unions not to relent on their demands, saying that workers deserve better.
Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Lagos-based lawyer, said that there was no justification for not paying the N30, 000 minimum wage.
“I generally believe that labour unions have not handled this matter strategically by calling off a strike when there was no concrete agreement.
“With this, it will be difficult to mobilise Nigerians to take the unions seriously henceforth.
“The economy is choking and I sympathise with the president, governors and our leaders, but they should pay the proposed minimum wage as demanded by the labour unions,” he said.
Mr Roy Okhidievbie said that the N30,000 minimum wage was long overdue and advised Labour to strategise properly to ensure that the agreement became binding.
Another legal practitioner, Mr Emmanuel Alade, said civil servants deserved a wage that would make their lives comfortable and called for speedy implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage.
“They deserve comfortable wages that can stop corruption and make them fit for the job they are doing,” he said.
Mr John Onyebuchi, a lawyer, also said that workers deserve more the than the N30,000 minimum wage.
“We understand the country’s financial status but at the same time, the government should find a way to ensure payment.
“Getting a better wage will curb or eradicate corruption and illegal activities,” he said.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliate unions called off its planned nationwide strike on Nov. 6 after the tripartite committee agreed to present the N30,000 minimum wage agreed upon to Federal Government. (NAN)
