Christopher Tom, Uyo.
The negotiated minimum wage did not meet the purpose of a minimum wage which are to protect workers from exploitation, ensure a decent standard of living, promote economic growth and stability and reduce poverty and income inequality, however, it is work in progress.
The National president, Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors & Allied Workers (NUPSRAW), Comrade (Mrs) Roselyn Uba-Anarah made this known during the National Executive Council Meeting in Uyo.
The National President said towards the development the NLC and JNPSNC are not relenting in their commitment to entrench global minimum wage standards.
According to her, the minimum wage is a crucial aspect of labour law, it is aimed to ensure fair compensation for workers despite that the circle of minimum wage review was five years as the Nigerian labour congress was able to negotiate 70% minimum wage with a reduced circle for review to three years is a welcome development.
The state chairperson, Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom State , Comrade Isangedoghi OKon, JP Chairman NUPSRAW/Akwa Ibo, State council has called on the government of Akwa Ibom State to speed up the implementation of the negotiated wage and the consequential adjustment by the Nigerian labour Congress to cushion the effect of the economic hardship inflicted on Nigerian workers as a result of obnoxious fiscal policies of the Federal Government.
He urged Akwa Ibom Government in their usual labour friendly manner hasten the implementation why use this opportunity to remind the government on the need to recruit more secretaries, data processors and official reporters and also pay attention to the peculiar needs of this category of workers in the state as most of them work with top management and has no control of their own timing, and because the cadre is basically populated by women, the peculiar needs of women should also be on the front burner.
Earlier, the head of civil service Akwa Ibom State, Elder Effiong Essien commended them for their massive turn out during the National Executive Council Meeting, and believe they will surely deliberate issues to move their union forward.
While understand Akwa Ibom State Government has made workers to smile over the minimum wage increasing it to eighty thousand naira (80,000) this showcase that we have a worker friendly governor.