The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday, protested against the bill seeking to remove the national minimum wage from the exclusive list.
Members of the union chanted solidarity songs and carried placards to register their displeasure and make their demands.
“Why are our representatives against us”? “Workers create wealth and deserve the best and next level of minimum wage now, among others”.
They marched from the NLC state secretariat to the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
Presenting the unions’ request to the Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, the State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman said, the National Minimum Wage is workers’ right and should not be decentralized.
Comrade Suleiman who led his council and congress members on the protest said that it was a shame for him at the national level of the labour movement, that the House Representatives member who sponsored what he called the anti workers’ bill is from Kaduna State.
His words: “it is a shame for me at the national level that, member representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Hon. Garba Datti Babawo sponsored the anti workers’ bill seeking to remove minimum wage from the exclusive list.
“What is still baffling us is that Kaduna State was the first to implement the new National Minimum wage of N30,000. Lawmakers don’t pay workers salaries. So, whose interest is Babawo protecting?”
Comrade Suleiman while emphasizing that, decentralizing the minimum wage will jeopardize workers’ rights, however, solicited the support of the State Assembly to stop the bill from being passed into law.
Receiving the protesting workers, the House of Assembly Speaker, member representing Zaria Kewaye and Chairman House Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Hon. Mohammed Ahmed assured that the House will always protect workers’ interests, adding that, workers’ welfare is top in the agenda of the Kaduna State government, just as it has been demonstrated by the state for being the first to implement the minimum wage.
