CSOs, Falana Seek Implementation of Extant Welfare Laws for Workers

Our Correspondent

As Nigeria yesterday joined the rest of the world to mark the Workers’ Day, civil society organisations CSOs) and a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, have called on the labour unions to take advantage of this year’s May Day celebration to adopt concrete measures that will compel the various tiers of government to implement all extant welfare laws and policies

In his May Day message to workers, Falana described these welfare laws and policies as the products of the collective struggle of the labour movement and other progressive forces in the country.

The rights activist identified some of the welfare laws to include the National Minimum Wage Act, National Health Act, National Health insurance Act, National Housing Act, Federal Morgage Act, Pension Reforms Act, Compulsory, Free and Universal Basic Education Act, Nigerian Education Bank Act and People’s Bank Act.

He noted that the demand for a new minimum wage by Nigerian workers was long overdue as a result of the depreciating quality of life caused by the gross mismanagement of the Nigerian economy by the ruling class with the connivance of imperialism.

According to him, the deliberate policy of successive governments to breach the provisions of the aforesaid welfare laws has compounded the crisis of youth unemployment and mass poverty in the country.