By Victor Ahiuma-Young

WARRI—Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State Council, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen Nigerian Labour laws and upwardly review the salary structure of workers to be more productive and contribute actively to the resolve of his government to bring about the Nigeria of everybody’s dream.

Buhari

The council commended the President’s effort to recover the nation’s stolen wealth to boost the economy and assured him of total support of Labour in Delta State, advising government to factor in salary review for workers as part of the war against corruption.

Factional Chairman of NLC in the state, Mr. Williams Akporeha, in a statement, in Warri, Delta State, said: “Beyond Mr President’s relentless effort in pursuing stolen funds around the globe, he should initiate a reform process in the labour sector to provide a solid basis not only to institute best labour practices in the country, but also secure acceptable remuneration structure for workers in both private and public sectors including government security agencies. Congress believes that if we get the issue of poor remuneration right, it will go a long way to curb corruption and secure economic stability.

“We condemn a situation where oil multinationals continue to take undue advantage of the unemployment situation in the country to subject Nigerians to perpetual slave labour. It is about time for government to take a critical look at our labour laws with a view to strengthen the weak areas so that defaulters can face justice.

“The five-year review set for the Nigeria minimum wage is no longer realistic due to rapid inflationary rate and obsolete labour policies. It is therefore envisaged that the government of President Buhari should not hesitate to consider an upward review of workers’ salaries to grow a motivated workforce in all sectors for the overall development of both human and capital resources for the country’s economy.”

He added that “motivation of the workforce builds confidence and the tendency to resist corruption in the work place. A well paid worker is a motivated worker who will be able to pay his bills and more to save. We advise government to factor in salary review for workers as part of the war against corruption