MAY DAY: NLC CALLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF MINIMUM WAGE

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Kaduna State Government to as a matter of urgency, implement the N18, 000 minimum wage, signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan. This is even as Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa said he would study the financial implications.

Delivering his May Day address, the State NLC Chairman, Comrade Adamu Ango noted that the welfare of the workers was paramount to the Congress and would like Kaduna State Government to implement the N18, 000.00 minimum wage that was signed into law by the President.

He further called on the government to address the issue of contributory pension as it affects pension from government and workers with a view to ascertaining the continuation of the scheme without hitches.

Similarly, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) State Chairman, Comrade Paul Y. Jezhi in his address, called on the government to declare a state of emergency on unemployment, adding that 'Job creation will reduce the social vices experienced in the country.'

Earlier in his address, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero while commiserating with NLC and the entire people of the State over those that lost their lives during the post-election violence, promised to give workers welfare, priority. On the implementation of the minimum wage, Yakowa said, 'I must not fail to state here that as soon as the details of the recently approved N18, 000.00 minimum wage were received, Kaduna State Government would study the financial implication of the package and come up with a practical implementation plan.

'The capacity of every state government to implement whatever pay-rise would depend on its Internal Revenue Generation capacity.' To this end, he disclosed that a committee to review the revenue generation and collection machinery in the State has been set up, while urging the NLC, TUC and other trade unions in the State to keep up to the good work in fostering industrial harmony as well as refocusing attention on issues that would enhance the productivity and efficiency of the work force in the state.

The May Day celebration in the State was low-key in honour of those that lost their lives during the post -election violence.