- He emphasized that the national leadership of the union, under the guidance of National President Joe Ajaero, remains unwavering in its demands, particularly the insistence on a N1 million minimum wage
The Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Ogun State, Hammed Ademola-Benco, reiterated on Wednesday that the proposed N1 million minimum wage for workers is non-negotiable.
Ademola-Benco made this assertion during a press briefing in Abeokuta, the state capital, concluding the two-day protest aimed at addressing insecurity, hunger, and the high cost of living.
He emphasized that the national leadership of the union, under the guidance of National President Joe Ajaero, remains unwavering in its demands, particularly the insistence on a N1 million minimum wage.
Ajaero had previously mentioned that ongoing inflation might prompt organized labour to advocate for this new minimum wage, considering the rising cost of living since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, citing factors like the removal of fuel subsidy and other policies.
Members of the NLC had embarked on a nationwide protest over the economic hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, amongst others, before suspending it and thereafter, gave the FG a new two-week ultimatum.
Ajaero, however, stated on Wednesday that the labour union could not proceed with its two-day nationwide protest due to intimidation and threats.
Speaking with journalists at the union’s secretariat in Abeokuta, Ademola-Benco lamented that Nigerian workers are among the worst paid in the world.
He said, “N1m minimum wage was a product of dollarisation, so we are not withdrawing that, except until they (FG) explain to us why we have to shift ground. We are human beings, we are ready to shift ground.
“Because I can’t just imagine somebody working in Canada and earning 30 Canadian dollar per hour. If the Canadian dollar is N1,000, that means that person is taking N30,000 per hour and some people here are not earning up to N6,000 per eight hours.
“They must bring everything to the table and explain to us, convince us why we should not dollarise salary of workers in this country.”