Congress lobbies Akeredolu on tripartite committee report

After last minute attempt by the Federal Government to forestall demonstration failed on Monday, Ondo State workers joined their counterparts across the country to protest delay in approving N30,000 minimum pay.

Labour unions converged at the Adegbemile Cultural Centre around 7am yesterday and embarked on peaceful demonstration to Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, causing severe traffic gridlock in Akure, the state capital.

They demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari should submit the bill to the National Assembly for the implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage for workers. While addressing workers in Akure, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said the protest was organised to ensure that the process of transmission of the bill is completed.

Wabba, who was represented by Comrade Yemisi Bamgbose, noted that the protest was about its implementation and therefore, has no bearing with the transmission of the bill or any political parties.

In a letter written to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the union reminded him that the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage, comprising government, organised private sector (OPS) and labour unions, had concluded its work and submitted the report with a draft bill to the President on November 6, 2018.

“Also, six governors were members of the committee that worked out the new national minimum wage. Therefore, it stands to reason that the report and draft bill were the collective effort of all concerned parties and should thus commend the governors’ support.

“Therefore, organised labour would wish to obtain from your excellency a commitment to the speedy implementation of the new national minimum pay of N30,000, when enacted into law,” the letter reads.

The union lobbied the governor to influence his colleagues in 35 states of the federation to support the new national minimum pay.Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ifedayo Abegunde, who addressed the labour unions, declared that the welfare of workers in the state was paramount to government.