Ajaero : What FG told us during minimum wage negotiation, says Imo should be emulated

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has called on the Federal Government to emulate Imo state in implementing the N104,000 minimum wage to workers in the country.

Ajaero made the call in an interview with newsmen on the side-line of the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) 7th National Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Abuja.

He explained that that during the wage negotiations with the Federal Government, the argument was that the government did not want to move too far because it needed to take into cognizance the ability of states to pay.

Ajaero said that the move by the Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma, to increase the minimum wage, has shown that states have the ability to pay N100, 000 minimum wage.

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“So many people were asking me, is this real? I said, this is a report from Imo State so far.

“I have reached out to him. Although he told me about it before now. It is real. That is the highest and to a very large extent, it is commendable.”

He added that the federal government said it could afford to pay more but it did not want to disorganise the wage system.

“But if the states have the capacity to pay N100,000 and above and considering that Imo State is not the highest in terms of revenue, it then means others are encouraged to do more.

“That is the whole essence of the issue of the underlining issue of minimum wage. Minimum wage is the least; states can do better. I think this is an initiative that other governors are supposed to follow.

“You must not wait for the next three years for a wage to be reviewed especially given the current economic situation, so that people can at least survive,“ he said.

Ajaero also expressed worry over some issues with the Nigeria Social insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and called for immediate action.

“It therefore becomes imperative that we also alert you of a dangerous development. The state, having diverted 40 per cent of workers’ contributions in NSITF, is now seeking to unilaterally amend the NSITF Act.

“This is to allow the government to control a fund that entirely belongs to workers.

“We had demanded that the funds be accounted for and returned so that Nigerian workers will enjoy the benefits of the Agency.”