By Samaila Bayo, Birnin kebbi
The Nigeria Labour Congress in Kebbi State on Monday faulted the pledge of N110,000 minimum wage the African Democratic Congress ADC governorship candidate and former attorney-general of the federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami made to the state teachers saying it's a mere political statement to mislead and deceive them.
The ADC governorship candidate had pledged to pay teachers in the state a minimum wage of N110,000 if elected governor in 2027 noting that it's ADC’s broader agenda to prioritise workers’ welfare, with emphasis on salaries, promotions, pensions, gratuities and leave grants.
The NLC chairman in Kebbi State, Comrade Murtala Usman while addressing journalists in Birnin kebbi said they were against the proposal because Malami does not understand what was on ground in the state in respect of workers salaries, gratuity and pension.
He said no labour leadership in the state has had any discussion with Malami to discuss the welfares of workers as he claimed. "We challenge him to tell us the leaders of NLC he met with and said to him that workers in kebbi are suffering", he said.
He added that the NLC is about to meet with the federal government for the negotiation of a new minimum wage because the N70,000 minimum wage agreed upon had a life span of three years and has expired for a new minimum wage to be negotiated.
Malami had urged teachers in the state to support the ADC, saying the party’s programmes were designed to improve workers’ welfare and address socio-economic challenges confronting residents.
He also pledged to introduce an empowerment scheme under which each teacher would have access to at least N2million to support their livelihoods and ease the economic challenges confronting them.
“We have plans to introduce a law that will provide not less than N2 million for each teacher as empowerment to help them overcome the hardship they are facing,” he said.
