May Day: Organized Labour demands immediate implementation of N35,000 wage award for workers

Organized Labour in Kogi State, have demanded the immediate implementation of N35,000 wage award for workers in the State.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that the Kogi State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Gabriel Amari disclosed that, the current N30,000 National Minimum Wage falls short of meeting basic needs of workers in the prevailing market conditions of the Country.

"We advocate for the immediate implementation of a Wage Award totaling around N35,000 in Kogi State. This adjustment is not only fair but also urgent, given the relentless rise in the costs of goods and services, which continuously erodes the purchasing power of Workers. 

"Until the long-awaited negotiations for a new minimum wage are concluded and put into effect, the Wage Award would serve as a temporary relief for Workers grappling with the current economic hardships.

" The Organized Labour in the state urges Kogi State Government to align itself with other states that have already heeded the recommendations of the President regarding the payment of Wage Award to Nigerian Workers. By doing so, Kogi would demonstrate its commitment to the welfare and well-being of its workforce. 

"According to the March 2024 publications from the National Bureau for Statistics (NBS), 

national inflation stands at 33.4 percent, with food inflation in Kogi State exceeding 44 percent, the 

highest in Nigeria. These staggering statistics reflect the challenges faced by Kogi workers, whose salaries already possess the lowest purchasing power in the country. 

"To worsen the plight of Kogi Workers, they contend with the non-cash backing of promotions and annual increments for many years at both the State and Local Government levels. Additionally, the failure to implement existing agreements for the payment of Leave Bonuses further compounds their challenges. These issues, alongside various other obstacles, impede the productivity of workers in the state and continually undermine the dignity of Kogi workforce.

"Labour also advocates for the Government to address the following specific concerns. Payment of weigh-in allowance for workers in media houses. Restoration of the 27.5% teachers’ peculiar allowance for teachers in primary and secondary schools in Kogi state. Issuance of all outstanding promotion letter to deserving Workers. Payment of the 2018 20 per cent balance of the three-month percentage salary for State Workers 

"Full implementation of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for all Health Workers. Provision of affordable owner-occupier housing for Workers. Provision of operational vehicles, financial interventions and recruitment for Parastatals and Ministries especially: Kogi Radio, Sports Councils, Graphic Newspaper and Kogi State Fire Service" he stated.

The Kogi State NLC Chairman also drew the attention of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on some security challanges in Kogi State.

His words "The issue of insecurity in Nigeria is a recurring concern. The country faces security challenges that not only threaten its stability but also have a huge impact on the productivity of Workers. This pervasive insecurity creates hurdles for economic growth, investment, and business development, ultimately affecting the entire labour force. 

"The constant threats of violence, kidnappings, and extortion deter both local and international investors, resulting in a decline in job opportunities, hindering business growth, and limiting economic progress. 

"Your excellency, it is disheartening to observe that despite your efforts to tackle  insecurity, there are still security breaches in some parts of the state. For instance, the recent incident in Agojeju-Odo Community in Omala Local Government, saw the loss of lives and properties due to herdsmen attack, including six Kogi Workers. It's evident that conventional policing alone cannot cover every corner of the state.

"Therefore there's a need to support community policing initiatives and enlist the services of hunters to complement law enforcement efforts. Additionally, in today's era, effective policing relies heavily on intelligence gathering. Thus, it's essential for the Government and all security agencies to prioritize intelligence gathering to outsmart criminal elements.

"Your Excellency, we implore you not to deter in your proactive approach to address insecurity. The workers of Kogi stand firmly behind your efforts to create a safe and conducive environment for all residents of the state"

Responding to the demand of workers, Kogi state Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo lauded the tireless effort of workers for their commitment for excellence despite the challenges in the Country. 

The Kogi state Governor promised to implement policies that will promote the right of workers and ensure they get the best in the Country. 

Governor Ododo outlined some of the move by his administration to ameliorate the suffering of workers amidst the economic hardship. 

The Governor promised to look into the request of workers for improved wage award in Kogi state. 

He commended the labour unions in Kogi state for their robust relationship with his administration, assuring his administration commitment in protecting the rights and dignity of workers. 

On security, Governor Ododo said his administration is winning the war against crimes and criminalities. 

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