Minimum wage: SSANU urges FG to negotiate with NLC

‎The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU), has advised the federal government to urgently negotiate with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for review of the National Minimum Wage and ensure Nigerians are given living wages‎.

It stated that the Federal Government should make public all recovered money from politicians and public office holders and inject same into the economy to help it out of recession.

SSANU also condemned hate speeches, threat for secession and the drumbeat of war in some sections of the country and called on workers to unite against poverty, deprivation and exploitation by the elite or ruling class.

The Association in a communiqué signed by its National President, Comrade Samson Chijioke Ugwoke and the National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Salaam Abdussobur, after its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting which held at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, said the country will gain more by staying together than going separate ways.

SSANU frowned at the precarious and pitiable state of the Nigerian worker in the face of present economic realities and called for urgent fixing of the economy.

The communiqué read in part: “NEC noted that the costs of food and basic essentials for existence are beyond the reach of the average Nigerian worker, while building materials have become so exorbitant that the common man cannot afford a decent home.  Government should plough back recovered loots into the economy “

NEC advised government to, for purposes of transparency and accountability, announce the various billions of Naira recovered from alleged looters and immediately plough back these huge amounts into the Nigerian economy, as keeping these monies in reserve or as savings while Nigerians starve, makes no meaning. “SSANU further advises Government to promote policies that will attract investors and prevent oligopolies in the food and building industries to save the masses these bleak situations.

SSANU advised government to urgently negotiate with the Nigeria Labour Congress for review of the National Minimum Wage and ensure Nigerians are given living wages.

“NEC in Session, demands as a matter of urgency, implementation of the payment of Earned Allowances being owed members of SSANU arising from the SSANU/ FGN 2009 Agreement as the continued delay is a breach of a Collective Bargaining Agreement and a dishonourable act by Government.

“NEC further noted that while the members of the ruling class have other places and countries to run to, the average Nigerian does not, and urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used as cannon fodder by the elite class.”

Stories by Joy Ekeke