As we celebrate May Day, Nigeria’a National Assembly should use the occasion to pass a bill introducing unprecedented workers rights as the Paris Commune did in 1871

Ayo Akinfe

[1] First and foremost, Nigerian labour unions are demanding a minimum monthly wage of N1m, which is about $710. I do not think that sum is excessive and believe a law authorising it should be passed today

[2] We then need to introduce anti-inflationary measure to protect this pay rise as we do not want any gains wiped out. I think the bank on spraying helps and the government should also look to reduce the amount of cash in circulation

[3] To pay for the rise, several initiatives can be looked at, including introducing a faith tax, a 40% tax on private jets, an Owambe tax, etc. Basically, we need to tax ostentation and use the proceeds to fund workers pay

[4] On March 28 1871, France took the world by storm when for the first time ever in the history of humanity, ordinary working people seized control of a country’s capital and established the Paris Commune. Many of the policies they introduced then remain with us until today and are taken for granted as universal human rights but at the time, they were extremely radical. I hope President Tinubu studies the Paris Commune

[5] For starters, they passed decrees separating the church from the state, appropriated all church property and excluded the practice of religion in schools. That sparked off the end of religious control of the state across Europe. That is why no European government will ever subside religious pilgrimages like Nigeria does

[6] What I love about the Paris Communards though were their social policies. For instance, in its Third Arrondissement, school materials were provided free and an orphanage was established. In its 20th Arrondissement, schoolchildren were provided with free clothing and food. We desperately need this in Nigeria today

[7] They also provided gender and wage equality, the right of divorce for women, the right to secular education and professional education for girls. In addition, they removed the distinction between married women and concubines and between legitimate and illegitimate children. To top it up they abolished prostitution

[8] What we also need President Tinubu to adopt from the Paris Commune today is its policy on executive pay restraint. The communards introduced a policy under which the pay of all officials of the Paris Commune was pegged at three times the minimum wage of the average worker

[9] What this will entail is the passing of a law wherein the pay of Nigerian lawmakers is tied to the minimum wage. No member of the National Assembly should receive more than three times the minimum wage in Nigeria

[10] Alternatively, President Tinubu could go for a compromise paying senators the same amount as permanent secretaries on Level 17 and members of the House of Reps the same amount as Level 16 heads of parastatals