…says, backlog not excuse for non- implementation
By Matthew Denis
The Kwara State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called
on Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq not to use salary arrears as an
excuse for delay on implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage when
the template is made available in the state.
Governor Abdulrazaq during a meeting last Friday with the Head of
Service (HoS) and civil servants in the state said that his
administration will first clear salary and pension backlog before
implementing the N30,000 new minimum wage.
Speaking in a telephone chat with our reporter last night, the Vice
Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Saheed Olayinka Muritala said,
“The statement by the Governor to clear salary arrears before the
implementation of the new minimum wage was received with divergent
views from our people.
“The Governor hasn’t called the central labour force in the state to
discuss fully on how he is going to clear the salary backlog and we
don’t want him to use that as a delay or yardstick in implementing the
N30,000 minimum wage.
“Although we had discussion with the elders of thought and
stakeholders, already our last month of May was a service of the past
government, so he needs not waste time in salary payment. If at all he
has the plan to clear the arrears he should have allowed the May
salary to be paid first and then call the labour leaders to a
roundtable discussion so that whatsoever step he wanted to take we
will dialogue and give our take on the issue.
“We’ll look at the advantages to him (Governor) and the workers in the
state. Such development will show that he has extended the hands of
friendship and togetherness to the workers. But the way he is doing is
like he doesn’t want to understand or know the importance of civil
servants in the state.
“As labour union, we are very inquisitive about happenings in the
state. We have issues that are germane and must be discussed with the
Governor,” he divulged.
In his response, the Kwara State Chairman of Trade Union Congress
(TUC), Comrade Kolawole Nasir Olumoh stressed that the state
government must urgently addressed the issue of implementation of the
new minimum wage anytime it received the template from the Federal
Government.
He said, “Because the minimum wage has come into effective on April 6,
2019 so even the federal government that has another committee on
ground charting the way forward knows definitely that they will be
paying arrears of salaries and which the labour has given them the
mandate on or before this first week of June to provide the template
for the payment.
“So, it is not about the Governor saying he wishes to settle the
arrears, the statement is okay but it is an indebtedness which we
believe that he will consult with us to know when and how to pay it,
of course we know he cannot pay in bulk.
“The issue of minimum wage is a monthly thing which by June ending if
they don’t pay, it becomes additional arrear. Therefore, minimum wage
must be tackled.”
Also speaking, the Kwara State President of National Union Local
Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Yusuf Salihu Ayinla lauded the
intention by the Governor to clear the salary arrears in the state.
He however called for a roundtable discussion between Governor
Abdulrazaq and the labour leaders in the state on the issue of
clearing the backlog of salaries.
