>From: "Johannes Schneider" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>More from the Nigerian magazine Newswatch, July 17 th
>
>http://www.newswatchngr.com/ng50.htm
>
> Tug of War
>
> Governors of 36 states and the Nigeria Labour Congress take inflexible
>positions on what should be the new minimum salary for workers
>
> By Fola Adekeye
>
>Ongoing battle by Nigerian workers for an increased salary pack-age above
>the N5,500 approved as minimum wage by the federal government took a
>dramatic turn last week. The workers received a sliding tackle from state
>governments who are now reneging on earlier promises to pay above the
>federal government's approved wage. After a meeting in Abuja last week, the
>36 governors rose in unison, resolving to pay their workers nothing more
>than the N5,500 minimum wage recommended by the presidency and approved by
>the national assembly. The N5,500 package comprises a basic salary of N4,000
>and allowances totaling N1,500.
>
>Labour leaders across the country swiftly reacted to the development. They
>described the governors' stance as "an insult which must not be tolerated by
>workers." Consequently, most of the states' chairmen of workers' union
>called out their members on an indefinite industrial strike last week.
>
>The problem confronting state governments now is how to make labour accept
>what they are now willing to offer. In Lagos for instance, the new position
>of governor Bola Tinubu has led to violent protests. The governor returned
>to Lagos on Tuesday last week and announced to his workers that he would pay
>them nothing more than N5,500 minimum wage. He had earlier accepted to pay
>N7,500 to workers on grade level 01 to 06 and promised to embark on full
>implementation of N7,500 for all "as and when sustainable revenue is
>assured."
>
>His inconsistency threw up dusts in Lagos last week. Ayodele Akele, chairman
>of the state council of industrial unions, COIU, was arrested by the police
>for alleged plan to set the state secretariat ablaze. His arrest caused
>protracted demonstrations by workers at the state secretariat. Police
>reaction to their protest was brutal. They shot dead one Popoola, a driver
>in the state ministry of works. Five other officials of the union were
>picked by the police to join Akele in detention.
>
>Beaten hands down by the police, the workers vented their spleen on innocent
>journalists whom they perceived as enemies. Conrad Akwu, deputy photo editor
>Newswatch, was mercilessly beaten and his camera seized by the irate
>workers. Efforts to recover his camera led this reporter into the union's
>house at Alausa. Unknown to him, the union house was serving as a place of
>torture for captured journalists. The big iron gate of the house was closed
>after he was led in by a worker who promised to recover Akwu's missing
>camera for Newswatch. This reporter turned out to be the fifth journalist
>"awaiting trial" in the union's house.
>
>Their ordeal was a mob judgment. The torture was severe. It was so severe
>that at certain points none of them cared any longer about what was
>happening to them. This reporter only heard , after a lucky escape, (a
>friend among the workers did the magic) that two of his colleagues were
>actually lynched in the house of torture. Lagos State workers alleged that
>newspapers and magazines in the state were taking sides with the government.
>
>Following the stalemate, Chris Ugot, NLC'S assistant general secretary on
>information, predicted that the recent nation-wide strike over fuel prices
>would be a "Child's play" compared to the industrial crisis that the minimum
>wage would spark off in the 36 states of the federation. He said the minimum
>wage strike would be "difficult" to manage by state governments and their
>security outfits because "we are going to have several flashpoints of
>strike."
>
>Ugot's prediction has now come true. Adams Oshiomhole, NLC's national
>president is being expected to address workers in Lagos this week on the
>minimum wage crisis.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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