From Ifeoma Ejiofor Nnewi
Labour Leaders in Anambra State have made a passionate appeal to Gov Charles Soludo to use the real chart released by federal government in computing the new minimum wage for workers in the state.
The Anambra State Chapter President, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE),Comrade Aromeh Nicholas, made the appeal while fielding questions journalists.
He said that the labour leaders in Anambra State which comprises, the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC),Trader Union Congress (TUC) and Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), an affiliate of NLC, are on the same page over the matter.
“There is issue of new minimum wage on ground now and the labour Leaders, such as NLC,and its affiliates,TUC and its affiliates and NULGE have been meeting and have met with the governor for two consecutive times on the matter.
“On the issue, Gov Soludo is not getting it right, because from what we have seen from him and his team, the Labour Leaders are not happy, especially the areas it affects salary grade levels 8 to 17, it is noty to write home about,” he said.
Comrade Aromeh added that Anambra state is not a different from other states of the federation noting that Anambra is far more better placed than a good number of states in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which have effectively adjusted to the new minimum wage regime.
“The chart must be used, government cannot decree which cadre of workers would receive so so percentage in a a way that reduces the take home of workers as the level goes up,” he noted.
Comrade Nicholas described the whole arrangement as almost nonsensical even as he wondered why somebody on grande level one, step one would be earning seventy thousand Naira and some fractions on top of it and a staff on level eight would be taking home seventy something thousand Naira monthly.
He appealed to Gov Soludo and his tram to in the name of decency and fairness use the normal salary payment chart.
“We all go to the same market irrespective of which chart is used in the payment of salaries, our children go to same school, the rent for house rents are not different as well as the cost of transportation. All that is good for the geeze should be equally good for the gander,” he asserted.
