By Glory Mfoniso
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) have jointly called for stronger commitments from government and employers in implementing a living minimum wage and abolishing unfair labour practices in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Speaking on the side-lines of the NUCECFWW 7th National Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Abuja, themed “Building Trade Unions Future through Strategic Organising and Investments,” NLC President Joe Ajaero urged the Federal and state governments to emulate Imo State’s bold move to implement a minimum wage of N104,000.
“So many people were asking me, is this real? I said, this is a report from Imo State so far.I have reached out to him. Although he told me about it before now. It is real. That is the highest and to a very large extent, it is commendable.”
Ajaero explained that during the wage negotiations with the Federal Government, the argument was that the Federal Government did not want to move too far because they needed to take into cognisance the sub-nationals.
“But if the states have the capacity to pay N100,000 and above and considering that Imo State is not the highest in terms of revenue. It then means others are encouraged to do more.
That is the whole essence of the issue of the underlining issue of minimum wage. Minimum wage is the least; states can do better. I think this is an initiative that other governors are supposed to follow.You must not wait for the next three years for a wage to be reviewed especially given the current economic situation, so that people can at least survive,” he stated.
Ajaero also raised concerns about the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF):
“It therefore becomes imperative that we also alert you of a dangerous development. The state, having diverted 40 per cent of workers’ contributions in NSITF is now seeking to unilaterally amend the NSITF Act.This is to allow the government to control a fund that entirely belongs to workers.We had demanded that the funds be accounted for and returned so that Nigerian workers will enjoy the benefits of the Agency.”
Also addressing the delegates, Comrade Stephen Okoro, President of NUCECFWW, lamented the unfair labour practices faced by construction workers, especially in multinational and indigenous firms.
“We bear the pains; and our job is to ensure that construction work in this country is in good condition.We do our best to ensure that we have good roads, buildings well erected, furnitures put in good place. That is our major concern.”
Okoro stressed that the union’s leadership in the last four years had maintained zero tolerance for unfair labour practices.
“We believe in the slogan ‘injury to one is injury to all.’ Also our quest for decent work agenda in all job sites remained relevant in our negotiations to preserve lives of members and occupational health hazards. We look forward to abolishing casualisation in the industry in the near future.”
The conference, attended by top labour leaders, reaffirmed the centrality of unions in defending workers’ rights, securing fair pay, and ensuring safe and decent work conditions in Nigeria’s construction and allied industries.