NLC urged to stand by N56,000 minimum wage demand

The National President of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigerian (MHWUN) Mr Biobelemoye Josiah, has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to maintain its demand of N56,000 during negotiations for minimum wage with Federal Government.

Josiah said this at official reception ceremony organised by the Association of Medical Laboratory Technicians and Assistants of Nigeria (AMELTAN) in honour of the MHWUN national president and other members held weekend in Abuja.

He said, “We have a trusted leadership that will not allow government to use the minimum wage issue as means of scoring political points. We are certain that should government try to employ delay tactics for any self-gain, our leadership will pull out.”

He noted that the NLC had earlier made it clear that it wanted N56,000 as new minimum wage, saying as responsible body, the NLC should not continually change its position.

He was of the view that if the political class is demanding to be paid like their counterparts in the U.S., they should also consider paying the working class like their counterparts abroad too.

“The current minimum wage in the U.S. is 1600 Dollars and here in Nigeria, our minimum wage is less than 40 Dollars. I want to emphasise that the more government puts in workers, the more they will be productive and there will be no need for anyone to think of looting,” he said.

He called on Federal Government not to delay the minimum wage issue, saying the wellbeing of the citizens, including workers, was among the constitutional responsibilities of government.

He also urged Federal Government to fulfill its agreement on salary adjustment entered with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

Josiah, who is also the National Chairman of JOHESU, noted that the union suspended its indefinite strike embarked on Sept. 20 following government’s promise on the salary adjustment.

“We suspended our strike following Federal Government’s promise to approve the adjustment of the salary in five weeks.”

AMELTAN National President, Mr Emmanuel Qwurong, said the event was organised to commend its members for their hard work.