By Dayo Johnson

Akure—THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday called for the downward review of emoluments of members of the States and National Assemblies as well as other public office holders to enable government meet the implementation of new minimum wage for workers in the country in year 2017.

Ondo State chairman of NLC, Comrade Bosede Daramola made the call in Akure at an end of the forum organised by the state branch of the Agriculture & Allied Employees’ Union of Nigeria, AAEUN.

Daramola also called for the provision of an incentives to make agriculture attractive to young graduates in the country as one of the ways to stem the rising unemployment.

She pointed out that “the current minimum wage of N18,000 can no longer sustain workers in view of the rising cost of essential commodities occasioned by the economic recession and daily falling of the naira’s value against dollars.”

“Since workers and public office holders go to the same markets but collecting hugely different salaries, there was a need to cut take home of the ministers, commissioners, federal and state lawmakers as well as blocking wastages in government’s spendings to allow federal and state governments to save enough money for the payment of new minimum wage for its employees.

“In the situation where majority of the state governments can’t even pay the current minimum wage the upward review of minimum wage was a legal matter which must be followed irrespective of the economic status of the country.

The state Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, Comrade Sunday Adeleye and the state Chairman of the Agriculture & Allied Employees’ Union of Nigeria, AAEUN, Comrade Moses Adeusi commended the special attention the President Buhari’s administration was given to agricultural sector.