The failure of the negotiations to reach an agreement on a new minimum wage has been criticized by the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The Federal Government has now being encouraged by the body to move quickly on that.
This was said by TUC President Comrade Festus Osifo during a press briefing following the National Executive Council, or NEC.
Before the end of May, Osifo ruled out the prospect of implementing a new minimum wage.
TUC also bemoaned the fact that several Niger Delta states, which get enormous sums of money from the Federation Account, have failed to provide their workers with palliative care or pay awards, blaming Delta, Imo, and Benue as the worst offenders.
In addition, TUC expressed shock that federal employees have not received their salary award for the months of March and April of this year from the federal government and demanded that the wage award be paid immediately to ease the financial burden.
“The NEC in session discussed the issues of minimum wage and that the government has to ensure that this is fast tracked because the working class is the only way you can inflate your economy,” he added. The sole means of expanding your economy is when individuals possess the means to buy groceries or other necessities from the usual market. What will happen if there is not enough money to buy these things, if the purchasing power parity is low?
Therefore, we urge that the committee responsible for setting the minimum salary expedite their work in order to establish a new minimum pay. The economy will only be reinflated in this manner.
