The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a nationwide protest from March 10, 2021 over minimum wage, hoarding of petroleum product and a plan to establish a State Judiciary Council (SJC).
In a meeting by the National Executive Council of NLC ,held at the Labour House Auditorium , Abuja, the congress also said that after the protest, there would be a nationwide strike if its resolution is not given due consideration.
Congress condemned in its entirety the idea of sponsoring a bill that would remove the Minimum Wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent Legislative list, adding that the state governments have the right to have their own minimum wage so far the wages are not below the national minimum wage.
The bill sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Garba Datti Mohammed, representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency, Kaduna, marked HB 950, has passed its 1st and 2ND reading in February 2021. The NEC considered it as the “Hand of Esau and the Voice of Jacob.”
In the communiqué signed by the Acting Gneral Secretary, Comrade Ismail Bello, and Comrade Ayuba Wabba, dated March 2nd, 2021, the NEC warned that if the new minimum wage law is passed into law it would lead to the exclusion of the private sector.
It also said that the practice of politics into wage determination would have dire consequences as it occurred during the First Republic.
It also took a swipe at the political class for not showing concern about the plight of the suffering masses and also considered the bill sponsored by Abbas Tajudeen representing Federal Constituency, Zaria, in Kaduna State, and seeking to allow for a constitutional establishment of State Judiciary Councils which it believes would not augur well with most Nigerians.
The NEC also frowned at the incessant hoarding of fuel and the creation of artificial scarcity.
After deliberation and consideration of the issues raised,“The NEC decided that there will be a national protest action commencing from the 10th of March 2021 in the Federal Capital Territory and especially to the National Assembly. The protest is to make a strong statement that Nigerian workers would not lie low and watch hard fought rights which are of global standards bastardized by opportunistic and narrow thinking politicians.
The NEC resolved that the national protest action will be concurrently held in all the 36 states of the federationand to the different State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria;
The NEC also decided that “should the need arise; it has empowered the National Administrative Council of the NLC to declare and enforce a national strike action especially if the legislators continue on the ruinous path of moving the National Minimum Wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.
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