3rd June, 2024
A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo has called on President Bola Tinubu to accede to the request of the Labour Leaders on minimum wage in the country and save the country from collapse.
Ajadi said the demand of N494,000 minimum wage by the Labour Union is not unconnected with the realities of today’s economy.
He noted that the sudden withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products and the increase of prices of foodstuffs and essential commodities have made the Labour Unions’ demand reasonable.
He advised that prolong strike may finally collapse the economy, calling on the president to agree with the Labour Unions and avoid prolonged strike action which he said may bring about total collapse of the economy.
Ajadi also warned against the use of threat against Labour Leaders saying that may aggravate the already tense situation in the country.
The Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi ( SAN) had threatened that the Labour Leaders may risk imprisonment if they go ahead with the strike .
Fagbemi said Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act requires a worker employed in any essential services to give their employer 15 days notice before ceasing their services and that any who did not comply would be liable to a fine or imprisonment for six months .
Ajadi however advised the Federal Government that such threat is not in the interest of the nation.
“Government should not threaten the Labour leaders with imprisonment or with any form of threat at all. President Tinubu should personally dialogue with the Labour Leaders on the way forward. He should come to term with the reality on ground. The withdrawal of petroleum products subsidy and the non regulation of food prices and prices of essential commodities have render naira to a low level. Even the N494,000 being demanded by the Labour cannot sustain an average worker in a month.
“The Federal government should come up with an holistic approach that will cushion the effect of high cost of living in the country,” Ajadi stated.