By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA – The registered opposition political parties Sunday, rose in support of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC  and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, over threat to embark on industrial action beginning from Wednesday, following non-implementation of the N18,000 National Minimum Wage by the Federal Government.

The parties have however advised President Goodluck Jonathan to respect the report of the Tripartite Committee  headed by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore which has provided a critical legal framework for the new National Minimum Wage.

They argued that the Justice Belgore report was incumbent on the Federal, State and Local governments and the private sector to adopt; as they were duly represented throughout the one year– from 14 JULY 2009 to 1 July 2010 – sittings of the Committee.

The umbrella body of the parties, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, which made the remarks in a statement issued by Mr. Osita Okechukwu, its National Publicity Secretary, in Abuja, said Jonathan has no option than to respect the report considering his current jumbo salary.

According to them, “CNPP calls on President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgent national importance to respect the National Minimum Wage Agreement of N18,000 which was agreed by the Tripartite Committee set up by the Federal Government; the respect of the agreement will avert an industrial strike in the midst of national recession.

President Jonathan

“CNPP is unaware of new National Minimum Wage President Jonathan is referring to, apart from the National Minimum Wage Act of 2000, which pegged minimum wage at N5,500; it is therefore regrettable that either President Jonathan or the National Council of States are being misled by the incremental salary increase to federal workers.

“It is our considered view that the Tripartite Committee Report has provided a critical legal framework for a new National Minimum Wage, accordingly it is incumbent on the Federal, State and Local governments and the private sector to adopt; as they were duly represented throughout the one year – from 14 JULY 2009 to 1 July 2010 – sittings of the Committee headed by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore.

“We are at a loss which further due consultation President Jonathan is referring to, instead of implementing the Tripartite Agreement; we consequently challenge him to forthwith submit  the accompanying Bill in the Tripartite Committee Report as an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to give legal teeth to the new minimum wage.

“CNPP cannot separate the monumental corruption going on in our public institutions and our poor rating in the Global Competitive Index and Transparency International from abysmal poor remuneration of Nigerian workers.

“Is it not paradoxical that a president  who is on jumbo salary, with uncountable perks of office is wavering on granting workers who go to the same market a less than living wage. Moreso, when the workers are aware that the governors, parliamentarians are also on jumbo pay.

“CNPP in sum supports the position of Labour and calls on all patriots to persuade President Jonathan to avert this avoidable industrial strike in the midst of recession.”