TUC serves FG notice for minimum wage increase
— February 24, 2016
• Wants sale of DISCOS reversed
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has served notice to the Federal Government demanding an upward review of minimum wage.
This is even as it called on the government to reverse the sale of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), accusing current operators of lacking the will, capacity and competence to invest in the power sector and provide electricity to consumers.
These were the highpoints of the congress’ presentation when it paid a courtesy visit to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, yesterday.
TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, said the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2011 would be five years old in March and, in recognition of the International Labour Organisation’s Minimum Wage Fixing Convention 131 of 1970, an ad hoc committee should be raised every five years for the review.
”We seized the opportunity to serve notice that it is time for the Federal Government to set up that committee and mandate it to kick start work on the fixing of a new minimum wage.
“We trust that this will be done immediately to save Nigerian workers from the harsh effects of present day economic realities which is taking tolls on their meager incomes.”
The TUC president described the increase in electricity tariff as ‘anti-people’, adding that the Act of the National Assembly empowering electricity regulator unilateral power to increase and disallowing same legislator from tampering with the act as “very lame, too simplistic and misleading.”
“Any act that preys on the masses that it is supposed to protect negates the very essence of public policy.
“In the same vein, any act that compels the citizens to pay for services not delivered is not only flawed and undemocratic but ultra vires to the power of the National Assembly to make laws for the good of the country,” he stressed.