NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, has advised government to immediately implement the N18000 new minimum wage to avoid a looming industrial action.

In a message to Nigerian workers to mark the nation’s golden anniversary, President of NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, said, “given the current economic realities, the leadership of the NLC is under intense pressure from affiliates to ensure the immediate implementation of a New National Minimum Wage in line with the negotiated agreements by the tripartite committee chaired by Justice Alfa Belgore, the former Chief Justice of Nigeria.

It is our belief that government should very urgently put in motion the processes of fast tracking the implementation so as to avoid the crisis that is bound to follow any delayed tactics. It is clear that Nigerian workers are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain themselves and their families with their current emoluments.”

“As a moment that heralds a new beginning, Congress strongly believes that for us to step out of the prevailing anomie, all Nigerians; most significantly our political elite, must recommit themselves to the fight against corruption. Our anti-corruption enforcement agencies must be made to become more efficient and effective in corruption investigations and prosecution.

The government must immediately set in motion a judicial process for quick adjudication of corruption cases by developing the proposal for the establishment of specialized anti-corruption courts for quicker adjudication of corruption cases.”

SSANIP laments slow agreement implementation

SENIOR Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, SSANIP, has faulted perceived slow pace of the implementation of 2001 re-negotiated agreement signed with the government in February 2010.

Leaders of SSANIP at the end of their 31st National Executive Committee, NEC and General Executive Council, GEC, meetings held at Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State, however commened Federal Government’s efforts in the 2001 Re-negotiated agreement with the union, in February 2010.

A communique at the end of the meetings read in part: ‘Council observed that the slow pace of implementation was due largely to the non conveyance of meeting of the Implementation Monitoring Committee.  Council also noted that monitoring committee was not meeting as a result of lack of funding by the relevant organisation i.e. the National Board for Technical Education.

Council calls on the Minister of Education to compel the NBTE to ensure that the IMC meets immediately. Council also on the Federal Government to hasten the release of enabling circular that will expedite the implementation of the 65 years retirement age approved for Non-academic Staff of Polytechnics, as was done for their academic counter- parts.”

Bankers decry social inequality

MEMBERS of the Senior Staff Association of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, ASSBIFI, have decried increasing social inequality in the country and called on immediate implementation of the N18,000.

At the end of their National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Ibadan, Oyo state, the bankers also lamented rising upsurge of crimes in the country.

According members of ASSBIFI in a communique at the end of the NEC meeting, “the Association viewed with trepidation the increasing high level of inequality that exist in the country whereby greater percentage of Nigerians have been ditched into unemployment market and living below poverty datum line.

It is for this reason that the Association is calling for the implementation of minimum and living wage of N18,000 for average Nigerians.  This will also go a long way to boost the economy because the purchasing power of the citizens of any country serves as a prerequisite in driving the economy.

“The Association condemned without reservation the high incidences of kidnappings, armed robbery, political assassination, corruption in high places, fraudulent activities and other forms of criminality that pervaded the entire polity.