Shehu Sani promises to support labour demands for a N30,000 minimum wage of the senate floor

KADUNA Central Senatorial District lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani has backed the protests by labour unions over a new minimum wage telling governors that the country can afford to pay a living salary of N30,000 a month to workers.

Over the last few months, labour unions and the government have been negotiating through the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage, with both sides coming up with different interpretations of their agreement. Labour leaders have rejected a decision by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), who met yesterday to peg the new minimum wage at N22,500 ($62) a month saying that the government must honour the agreement to raise it to N30,000 ($82.50) or face a general strike as from November 6.

Posting on his Twitter page, Senator Sani wrote: “NLC’s nationwide mass protest is commendable. Those who can pay N22,000 as minimum wage should just add N8,000 to make it N30,000.

"Nigeria’s economy can sustain it, so the struggle must continue. I will add a strong voice of solidarity to this on the floor of the senate.”

United Labour Congress president Joe Ajaero, declared that from November 6, it would to total war with government until the N30,000 new minimum wage was achieved. According to him, whatever the governors meeting yesterday came out with would be of no effect unless they agreed to implement the N30,000 minimum wage, insisting that there would be no more negotiation because the tripartite committee appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, had finished its assignment and submitted its report to the president.

Nigerian Labour Congress vice president Amechi Asugwuni told Nigerians to stock up foodstuffs  and other necessities ahead of the November 6 strike. He added that once the unions commence the strike, there will be no going back except government agrees to their terms and conditions.