Ogun NLC Gives 7-Day Ultimatum To Amosun Over Minimum Wage

The Ogun chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) this evening gave the state government a 7-day ultimatum within which to release the circular on the implementation of the N18, 000 minimum wage.

The state NLC Chairman, Mr Akeem Ambali, P.M.NEWS learnt, expressed regret that Governor Ibikunle Amosun had refused to implement the agreement on the new wage.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Abeokuta today, Ambali recalled that the outgone administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel had reached an agreement with labour on the payment of the new wage before the expiration of its administration.

According to Ambali, the Union “entered into robust negotiations with former Governor Daniel and N18,000 minimum wage was approved for state workers.The approval was communicated to the state House of Assembly, and it was passed into law.’’

He said that the NLC rallied support for Amosun based on the promise he made during his campaign that he was going to implement the new minimum wage, if he became governor.

“We had expected that in the first week of his assumption of office, he would have caused the release of the circular to effect the payment of the minimum wage.

“The workers in the state are now agitated; they are unhappy; they feel that the money should be paid without delay.

“We are giving a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to urgently call the NLC leadership for a dialogue in order to make the new wage reflect in our salaries,’’ Ambali said.

The Ijebu-born union leader pointed that if the new wage was not implemented at the expiration of the ultimatum, he would stand on the side of the workers on the next line of action.

The NLC boss contended that it was not too early for the administration to implement the wage, stressing that the governor had enough information in his arsenal before promising the payment of the new wage.

He said:“It was on the basis of his vow to implement the new minimum wage on his assumption of office that we gave him our support during the electioneering campaign.’’

Ambali also advised the government on the contributory pension fund, from which he accused the Daniel administration of diverting the sum of N8. 5 billion.

He called on the new governor to take a holistic view of the matter and commence the refund of the money which had been deducted from workers’ salaries.

By Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta