Date: 2018-05-03

A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Ajia, has canvassed prompt implementation of the new minimum wage for workers in the country.

He also states that the current take home pay for the nation's working populace is a sharp contrast to the economic reality Nigerians are grappling with.

This was contained in a statement released in Ilorin yesterday as part of activities marking Workers' Day.

He further said government must begin to appreciate perseverance, patience and selfless sacrifice of workers, who have had to contend with the unfavourable economic climate occasioned by recession.

The PDP governorship hopeful stated that the time is ripe for government to take urgent steps to redeem the fortunes of workers with commensurate salaries and other allowances for better standard of living.

Ajia, who is the founder of Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim (MAI) Foundation, called on government at the State and Local levels to look for new ways of improving the condition of service of their workforce so as to encourage them to contribute substantially to the nation's growth and development.

He, however, expressed delight that the organised labour has remained resolute in the pursuit of its demand for good living condition of its members and encouraged it to sustain the tempo.

Ajia urged the working populace not to be deterred by some of the challenges facing it at the moment, describing them as a phase in the processes of development.

He congratulated the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and others for their tenacity of purpose in moving the nation forward.

"Our belief is that the demand for increase in workers salaries was borne out of the need to improve the welfare and living conditions of the working populace considering the present economic reality. Government must strive and make it a point of duty to resolve the ongoing dialogue for rise in pay for workers and commence the payment in earnest.

"It is however delightful that workers and the organised labour have remained consistent and resolute in their demand for improved pay despite the hostile environment they found themselves", Ajia said.