LAGOS – CIVIL Society allies of organised labour, yesterday, advised state governors to immediately commence the implementation of the N18,000 new minimum wage to save the nation from looming anarchy.

Civil society groups, under the umbrella of the Joint Action Forum, JAF, at a briefing in Lagos, noted that the governors have no excuse not to pay the wage because they were part of the negotiations that brought about the minimum wage.

JAF said it resolved to join labour to resist any attempt by government at all levels to further delay payment of the wage and “worsen the burden on Nigerians, who already groan under the heavy cost of education, health care, water and electricity they  provide for themselves as a result of the anti-people policies of the irresponsible and thieving ruling elite.”

Addressing journalists on behalf of the group, its Secretary, Mr Abiodun Aremu, called  for the reduction in the jumbo pays of all political office holders,  following the scandalous reports, that “while a Senator and member of the House of Representatives in an unproductive economy such as Nigeria collect $1.7million and $1.2 million  a year respectively, the salary of the President of United States, the world’s biggest economy is $400,000 per year.”

According to him, “we call on all workers, youths, students, traders, artisans, among others  to support the struggle of labour to compel the government to pay the new minimum wage. We also call on labour to set up strike committees.”
By victor ahiuma-young