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TMC supports workers in wage increase dialogue

By Shakirah Adunola
26 October 2018   |   3:57 am
The Muslim Congress (TMC) Committee on Social Mobility, Economy and Politics has called on the Federal Government to speed up its dialogue on minimum wage with the stakeholders in order to arrive at an amount that will ease the daily burdens of Nigerian workers.

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (middle) and other participants at the Inauguration of Baitul Aafiyat Mosque in Philadelphia.

The Muslim Congress (TMC) Committee on Social Mobility, Economy and Politics has called on the Federal Government to speed up its dialogue on minimum wage with the stakeholders in order to arrive at an amount that will ease the daily burdens of Nigerian workers.

The group also commended the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) for the recovery of public property.The SPIP has reportedly recovered over N4 billion and another $7 million in cash as well as physical assets in its various operations.

Secretary-General of TMC, Alhaji Taiwo Bamgbala, during the address on state of the nation, said that that Nigerian workers definitely deserve a rise in their take-home pay, having been on the receiving end for so long in the history.

“The long-suffering workers deserve every comfort they can get in order to live a more comfortable and less-stressful life. In 2011, the National Minimum Wage Act set workers’ wage at N18,000 per month and to be revised every five years. An upward review is therefore, justified by the fact that the cost of living has increased considerably,’’ Bamgbala urged the Federal Government to speed up its dialogue with the stakeholders in order to arrive at a figure that will ease the daily burdens of the Nigerian workers.

“That amount should also be in consultation with the state governments, especially owing to the fact that most of the states are already defaulting in paying the N18,000 minimum wage.“But more importantly, governments at all levels must speed up the development of public infrastructure and also step up financial inclusion.

“These two steps will further complement the increase in minimum wage to make life more meaningful for the people. However, he said the special investigator to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), which was inaugurated by the then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, in August 2017, has shown that Nigeria cannot develop except there is a rigorous and sustained fight against corruption.

The committee commended the chairman of SPIP, Okoi Obono-Obla for recovering $7 million from the previous management of the Nigeria Export and Import (NEXIM) Bank.“The sum of N533 million and landed property valued at N1.5 billion were also recovered from the former NEXIM Bank management and returned to the bank.

“SPIP also recovered N24 million allegedly misappropriated by some directors of the National Theatre, and two hectares of land worth N2 billion belonging to the National Council for Arts and Culture. Also recovered is a part of the Agura Hotel, illegally annexed by some so-called “powerful persons” with untouchable connections for over 20 years.

This property has been returned to its rightful owners, the Nigerian Ports Authority. “The SPIP also recovered 86 assorted vehicles valued at N500 million, six houses in highbrow areas of Abuja and a large farm in Abuja from a director in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.’’

The committee said that the issue was not about how much Nigeria earns but about how much is stolen. Noting that the 2019 general election must be about sustaining the fight against corruption and the integrity and credibility of the candidates seeking political offices.

The group noted with delight, the affirmation of the constitutionality of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Executive Order No. 6 by the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.“This executive order permits the Federal Government to confiscate assets belonging to persons facing corruption-related charges. “The court held that the president did not act beyond the power available to him under the constitution.

“We give kudos to Justice Ojukwu for this judgement that will enhance the anti-corruption efforts of this administration and also boost the efforts on recovery of stolen assets. “This is a right step in the right direction and it will ensure that our commonwealth is returned to the people,” the committee stated in the quarterly address.

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