Date: 2018-05-03

As dialogue lingers over new minimum wage for the nation's workforce, the Labour Party (LP) said yesterday that it was leading a movement to secure better pay for the working populace.

The party explained that the subsisting N18, 000 minimum wage, was no longer feasible in the wake of the economic reality, maintaining that Nigerian workers must get pay rise for improved conditions of living.

The National Chairman of the party, Dr Mike Omotosho, said this in a statement signed by his Special Media Assistant, Innocent Odoh, a copy of which was made available to The Herald in Ilorin yesterday in commemoration of activities for Workers' Day.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its Trade Union Congress (TUC) are currently demanding N66,000 as new minimum wage for workers in the ongoing negotiation with the Federal Government.

Omotosho said it was not unaware of pains, sorrows and tears workers are going through with what it called "deliberate attempt to scuttle your noble ideas with anti-people and anti-labour policies".

He noted with dismay the attempts to polarize the organised labour in the bid to force it to submission, noting that it was cheering that the union has not succumbed.

It expressed solidarity with the workers on the celebration on their sacrifices to nation building amidst the enormous challenges confronting them especially in the current difficult economic dispensation.

"As the party of the working masses and the embodiment of their values, principles and aspirations, the Labour Party felicitates with your courage and your forward –looking posture even in the most unfriendly working circumstances.We urge you to remain steadfast and not be deterred by the huge challenges facing you.

"The Labour Party is not oblivious of your pains, sorrows and tears following the deliberate attempt to scuttle your noble ideas with anti-people and anti-labour policies. We also note with dismay, the attempts being made to polarize the labour unions in order to force them to submission, but you have not given up. That is why the Labour Party is proud of you and has resolved to strengthen its bond with you in these ugly times.

"The Nigerian workers commit their energy, time and treasure toiling every day to eke out a living but the wealth that is supposed to accrue to them over their enormous sufferings has not been commensurate due to poor wages, poor job conditions, inadequate infrastructure, and exploitative attitude of business owners among others.

"The N18, 000 minimum wage, is no longer feasible and we are leading the movement to ensure that the workers get pay rise that will better their conditions.

"The Labour Party has not and will not renege on its core mandate to protect the workers and this is the time to consolidate our efforts. We enjoin all the workers to join hands with us as we rebrand the working conditions of the nation and bring their required benefits.

"We in the Labour Party are imbued with new ideas, new propositions and the spirit to take the workers and the Nigerian people in general even as we look forward to the 2019 elections", Omotosho said.