It is indeed provocative that the FGN cannot approve and implement the N18,000 minimum wage for the Nigerian workers. No wonder The Nigeria Labour Congress has described the delay in implementing the N18,000 national minimum wage by the federal and state governments as been provocative.

Addressing journalists at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the President of NLC, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, said that the delay had left the congress with no choice but to demand for salary arrears by the end of this month.

Omar said, “The continued delay in implementing this new wage over a year after the agreement was reached is to say the least, provocative.

“If after the warning strike and the proposed National Council of State meeting, the implementation of the new minimum wage is delayed beyond this month, then labour will have no option but to demand for payment of salary arrears.”

The NCS was expected to meet on Thursday (today) on the minimum wage.

The organised labour had, on November 8, commenced a three-day warning strike to protest the non-implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage but suspended it a day after President Goodluck Jonathan intervened.

Jonathan had lamented that some forces were determined to sabotage the implementation of the new minimum wage. He promised that all stakeholders would approve its implementation.

Omar stated, ”The successful warning strike was avoidable but we had to embark on it because it was clear that there were forces in the country out to sabotage the process.

“The NLC therefore calls on the Council of States to do that which is in the best interest of the country and its people by supporting the N18, 000 national minimum wage agreement,” he added.

Meanwhile, the NLC has said that any attempt by any of the state governors to retrench as a result of the new wage will been seen as blackmail.

The NLC General Secretary, Mr. John Odah, in a text message to one our correspondents, said, “This will be an unacceptable blackmail. We insist that if the state governments manage their resources prudently, they will be able to pay the new minimum wage without having to retrench. The Nigerian ruling establishment needs to realise that for workers to be able to buy what is produced, their take home pay needs to be enhanced. With minimum wage currently at N4,500, this will continue to be a mirage.”