The governorship aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) in Kwara, Mr Issa Aremu, has declared support for a new minimum wage and warning strike called by the Organised Labour.
Aremu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that the delay in implementing the new minimum wage was deliberate by the Federal Government.
Aremu said it was not too late to avert industrial crisis, if the Federal Government could offer leadership and conclude the year-long negotiation before the expiration of the deadline given by labour union.
He said if the Federal Government failed to do the needful, the labour union would not hesitate to mobilise its members in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for strike.
Aremu added that the mass protest by the organised labour would enjoy the support of all stakeholders unless the Federal Government goes back to the negotiation table.
According to the governorship aspirant, economic recovery would always elude Nigerians until the country put an end to what he called “persistent crisis of compensation of the working class.”
He said that workers must be compensated through enhanced purchasing power, which was only possible through prompt and adequate payment of minimum and living wage for the employed workforce.
The Kwara State LP governorship aspirant said the key to sustainable development is improved labour productivity in both public and private sectors.
This, he said, could only be made possible through motivated and well paid workers at work and after work through adequate pensions.
NAN reports that the organised labour had issued 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government from Sept. 12 or embark on strike if their demands were not met.
The NLC had demanded that the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage should conclude its work within the stipulated time frame.
The oganised labour had concluded arrangements to commence strike from Midnight Wednesday, Sept. 26, following Federal Government’s failure to honour its ultimatum on the new minimum wage. (NAN)
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