Politics

Minimum wage: Nigerian workers have been swindled - Union raises alarm

Monday, September 30, 2019 at 8:52 AM by Nnenna Ibeh

- Trade Union Congress on Sunday, September 29, said Nigerian workers have been swindled by the federal government

- The union said the plan by FG to set up a fresh committee on the already approved minimum wage is uncalled for

- The leadership of the TUC also said that have learnt their lessons on dealing with the federal government on the issue of minimum wage

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has described the prolonged controversy on the federal government's approved N30,000 minimum wage as a possible scam.

The union on Sunday, September 29, said Nigerian workers have been swindled by the government on the N30,000 minimum wage approval.

Tribune reports that union in an independence anniversary message said the talk by the federal government to set up another committee on the already approved N30,000 minimum wage makes Nigerian workers believe they have been swindled.

A statement by the president of TUC, Quadri Olaleye, and the secretary-general, Musa-Lawal Ozigi said: “To talk about setting up another committee over the same issue makes us feel we have been swindled. We have learnt our lessons.”

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The union also said it is disturbing that months after the National Minimum Wage Committee (NMC) set up by the federal government to work on the new wage had submitted their report government is still not committed to paying the new wage.

"We are beginning to think that signing it in the first place was because of the 2019 General elections," the statement said.

The union also decried the budget of N5.6 billion for the purchase of vehicles for lawmakers while the federal government have continued to lament over lack of funds to pay Nigerian workers.

“Our belief is that the government can actually pay if only the cost of governance will be reduced. As long as some people continue to feel that they are more Nigerian and therefore should enjoy more than others we cannot have a sane society," the union added.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, had been directed by the president to speed up negotiation with the unions on the new minimum wage.