NLC pickets parastata agencies over non payment of minimum wage by Enugu State government
The Enugu State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Vyginus Nwobodo says the organised Lablour is disturbed by Enugu State Government’s selective payment of minimum wage to it’s workers.
He spoke to Journalists in Enugu on the backdrop of it’s picketing of some Parastal Agencies in commemoration of World Decent Work Day.
Nwobodo said that, the Labour movement in the state was seriously concerned about the situation, hence it embarked on picketing of the establishments to “register our disappointment.”
“The government has been paying core Ministry workers their minimum wage since 2020 but employees of Parastal Agencies are not paid.
“So, I wonder why those working in Parastal Agencies should be left out; are they not the same government employees ” he said.
He mentioned the affected Parastal Agencies to include Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS); Enugu State Water Corporation; (ESWC) State Library Board and State Rural Electrification Board (ESREB)
Other agencies are ENRUAASA, Arts and Culture, and the Enugu State Transport Company.
The NLC chairman said it took Teachers in the state to go on strike before the government was able to start paltry payment of minimum wage to them.
“Teachers had to embark on strike some months ago before the government decided to pay something, ” he said.
He said that the organised labour will continue to monitor the situation.
“We will continue to monitor the situation while urging the government to address the injustice because “you cannot rub Peter to pay Paul.”
“The state government should do the right thing by implementing the minimum wage across board, ” he said.
The chairman said that most of the establishments were those on essential services.
“Imagine staff of Water Corporation; Rural Electrification; the State Broadcasting Service among others.
“These employees deserve better treatment, they deserve to be paid, ” he said.
He said that considering the current high rising inflation in the country, it will amount to injustice and unfair for a worker to continue to receive a paltry N18,000 monthly.
“Imagine N18,000 salary to a worker, this is no longer realistic in Nigeria today, government should stop being insensitive to it’s workers, ” he said.
