Nigeria Labour Congress Pushes for Higher Minimum Wage and Better Pensions
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced its intention to embark on a nationwide campaign for review of the national minimum wage as well as the introduction of a national minimum pension for retired workers.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the labour movement would no longer focus only on the welfare of workers on active service without giving equal attention to the plight of pensioners.
Sunday during the inauguration of the Godwin Abumisi Pensioners’ Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja, Ajaero made this known, Naija News reports.
Speaking at the event, the NLC president said organised labour had entered the preparatory stage of what he described as a major national campaign for a comprehensive review of the country’s minimum wage.
He said that while workers’ welfare was being discussed, the living conditions of retired public servants who gave their productive years to serve the nation must also be considered.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress is in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage,” said Ajaero.
“But it is no longer sufficient to talk about the welfare of workers without talking about the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
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“The situation for many retirees is unacceptable,” he said, “and they should not be left to struggle after years of dedicated service.
“It is a historical injustice that men and women who have devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement,” he said.
According to Ajaero, the increasing cost of living and persistent inflation have made life even more difficult for many pensioners across the country.
“Many pensioners are now living on pensions that can no longer meet their basic needs,” he said, adding that the situation required urgent government intervention.
“We cannot allow our senior citizens to continue to live on pensions that have become poverty wages. “Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after years of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
The labour chief also called on pensioners to remain united and be prepared to support the struggle for improved retirement benefits.
He added that the Congress would continue to demand immediate payment of pending pension arrears and implementation of a pension scheme that provides financial security to the pensioners.
“We will continue to demand immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security,” Ajaero said.
