- PDP, APC have failed workers, says Jega
The Federal Government yesterday said a new minimum wage would be announced before the end of the third quarter of this year. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, made this known in Abuja during the first series of public lectures to commemorate 40th anniversary of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
Ngige, who pleaded with the workers to be patient with government and the tripartite committee in charge of the minimum wage review, gave assurances that the welfare of workers was of topmost priority to the present administration.
He said: “Workers should not be grumbling about the announcement of the new minimum wage for now, let us finish our work. Nobody will cheat the workers of Nigeria as long as some of us are present in that committee.” Delivering the first anniversary lecture entitled; ‘Labour, Politics and Governance in Nigeria,’ former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, lamented that Nigerian workers deserved better than what had been offered them so far by the present All Progressives Congress (APC) led government, the past governments and the leadership of the NLC.
Jega also stressed the need for workers to be mobilised to engage in policy and legislative advocacy and in putting pressure on elected executives and representatives to be responsible and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the citizens.
Commending the NLC for its many successes achieved over the years in the midst of struggle, pain and blood, Jega, however, advised the current leadership of the NLC to retrace its steps and rekindle the spirit and strength the NLC of old used during the military era. According to him, such spirit was most needed at this time as Nigerian workers needed a more serious, effective and or-ganised Labour union now than ever before.
He further urged the union to pay attention to the realities on ground and reinvigorate itself for the many tasks ahead. Also speaking at the occasion, former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole, said those who were in power would never govern according to the role values of Nigerians workers. He explained that government and governance was value-driven and it was a bias act to decide who gets what and who pays for it.
“Those who are in power will never govern according to your role values. The position they take on or the policy choices they make are not the result of errors of your judgement. They are the conscious decision taken in order to ensure that a particular class gets more. And the more a particular class gets more, the less is available for the rest of the masses.”
Oshiomole, who is a one-time President of the NLC, called on Nigerian workers to fully engage in political activities rather than its continued dependence on placards, persuasion and negotiation, which would never be about the desired changes the workers yearned for. “So government and governance is value-driven, is a bias act to decide who gets what and who pays for it. “Placards can moderate and force them to go back and re-strategise. But placards and the most potent strike will not change their value system. Rather they go back and strategise on how best to continue to dominate and use the instrument of state to enrich those they wish and pauperise those they also choose.
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