Cross River Supports NLC, As Ayade Assures Workers of N30,000 minimum wage

The Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade says he will support the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in her efforts to achieve in the payment of the N30, 000 proposed minimum wage to workers.

Ayade gave this assurance on Tuesday in Calabar during a rally organized by the Cross River State branch of the NLC to drive home their quest for the payment of a new minimum wage.

The Cross River branch of the NLC had called out their workers on a rally which commenced at about 9am from Freedom Park, Marry Slessor, Calabar to the Governor’s Office, singing solidarity songs across the way.

Some of the placards read; “N30, 000 minimum wage or never, Governors’ forum not constitutional, Minimum wage, three years overdue”.

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Earlier, state chairman of the NLC, Comrade John Ushie recalled that the tripartite committee on the National Minimum Wage, comprising the Government, Organized Private Sector and Organised Labour concluded its work and submitted the report with a draft bill to President Mohammadu Buhari  on the 6th of November, 2018.

Ushie said the report and draft bill were collective efforts of the broad spectrum of all concerned parties and expressed surprise why the Federal Government has reneged in implementing the agreement.

“In the light of the above development therefore, the state council of the NLC, Cross River State would wish to obtain from your Excellency”, your views on the matter.

The state NLC appealed to the governor to “kindly convey our polite gesture to your colleagues to see reason and key into this gamine demand by the Organised Labour”.

The NLC boss warned that if their requests are turned down, the workers will react and “as voters will indeed take their fate to the pooling stations and indicate in the ballot their views” as it regards the minimum wage.

The Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade reassured that he supports the N30, 000 new minimum wage for workers. “I have a lot of sympathy for the Nigerian worker and that is why I pay salaries promptly”.

Cross River stands by labour in this regards. N30, 000 minimum wage is not our problem”. Ayade stressed.