Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole emphasized the urgency for both public and private sectors to ensure payment of the new minimum wage of N35,000 to workers before Christmas.
Addressing attendees at the 8th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Non-Academics Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in Abuja, Oshiomhole cautioned that failure to pay the N35,000 minimum wage could jeopardize Christmas celebrations for workers.
The ongoing discourse between the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government regarding the improvement of workers’ wages has seen repeated exchanges. The NLC has consistently threatened nationwide strikes to push for increased wages from the Federal Government.
Oshiomhole, speaking at the event, said: “Now that you have N35,000, there are workers from different states. Are all the state governments implementing it? The answer is no. Why should it be no, and why are they at peace? Your members are not at peace in the States.
“It should not be a selective application. The N35,000 must affect all workers. It has to go around all workers in Nigeria, whether public or private, that is the logic of nationwide strike.
“Please tell the NLC President that those are the issues that they must solve so that this December, nobody goes home without that N35,000.
“Whether such a worker is working for the federal, state, local government or the private sector, that N35,000 must be paid. If you don’t pay, there will be no Christmas for you as an employer whether public or private sector.”
