Nigeria at 62: NLC urges FG to review workers’ salaries, minimum pension every 5 years

By Ramatu Garba

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kano State Council, has urged the Federal Government to review workers’ salaries and minimum pension every five years to ensure industrial peace and harmony in the country as the Nation marked her 62nd Independence Anniversary.

The Chairman, NLC Kano, Comrade Kabiru Ado-Minjibir, gave the advice in an interview in Kano on Saturday.

“As a Nation, Nigeria at 62 has witnessed some level of development in some areas and needs to do more in other areas,” he said.

According to him, the way forward to improve workers’ salaries in the country is to adhere to the provisions of the law as contained in the 1999 Federal Government Constitution (as amended).

“The law says workers’ salaries should be reviewed every five years, inflation or not, and same constitution extends this to review of Minimum Pension every five years whether there is Minimum Wage increase or inflation.

“By abiding by these provisions, it will provide industrial peace and harmony in the country and the purchasing power of workers will not always be eroded,” Ado-Minjibir said.

He further explained that workers and pensioners’ welfare need to be improved, compared to what is happening in other countries even within African underdeveloped countries.

“We appreciate the Federal Government for review of Minimum Wage which is supposed to be every five years.

He said that unemployment is a very challenging situation in the country, especially considering the large number of unemployed youths and graduates in the country which, he stressed, “definitely contributes to the current insecurity we are facing as a Nation.”

He, therefore, advised the Federal and State governments to take the issue of employment as a priority and revive the industries which also serves as major employers of labour in the country.

Ado-Minjibir further urged the Federal Government to do everything possible to reduce inflation rate in the country and ensure price control for essential commodities.

He felicitated with Nigerians workers and pensioners and wished them a happy 62nd Independence Anniversary.