The Senate
President, Sen. Bukola Saraki has declared that the country can no longer continue
with the present N18, 000 minimum wage for workers.
He made the
declaration Thursday, while addressing the Nigerian labour Congress (NLC) and
Trade Union Congress (TUC) members, who protested to the National Assembly for
Good governance and support for the fight against corruption.
The Senate
President said with the high exchange rate and inflation in the country, the
government is left with no option than to adjust the current minimum wage to
enable the workers cope with the present harsh economic realities.
‘The
challenges are enormous. I commend your action. Part of the contributions you
are making is the sacrifice you have made today. This is your second time here
and it is because of the respect I have for you that made me to come out myself
to see you since I am around.
‘As many
times you have been coming, I have come out to receive you because I agree with
you that we have problem in the land. Yes, we have problem and for that we have
to make our country better.
‘The
challenges are enormous and already, I believe that there is hunger in the
land. Today, as you all have observed, the exchange rate is high, the inflation
is high, the price of food have gone up. The only thing that has remained low
is the salaries. We cannot continue like that.
‘What we
need to do is to sit down and work out how we are going to make the necessary
adjustments because we go to the same market and it is no fault of yours that
things are the way they are,’ he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment