From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Labour veterans have called on state governors to be committed to the review of the minimum wage and to stop arbitrary deductions from workers’ salaries.
In a statement issued Tuesday, National Interim Chairman Comrade Isa Tijani expressed concern about the ongoing negotiation for the upward review of the National Minimum Wage by the federal government. He emphasized the need for labour leaders and workers to pay close attention to the full implementation of any agreement reached with the government.
Tijani highlighted the case of Borno State, where workers in most local governments are reportedly being paid between N6,000 and N8,000 as minimum wage. He described this practice as “inhuman slavery” and urged Governor Zulum to ensure all workers are paid the agreed amount, stop arbitrary deductions, and address the issue of low wages across the state.
The veterans expressed concern that similar situations might exist in other states and emphasized the importance of ensuring full implementation of the new minimum wage across the board.