NLC calls for salary review against harsh economy

AWKA – The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday appealed to the Federal Government to review workers salary to cushion the harsh effects of the economy.
Mr Patrick Obianyo, the Chairman of the NLC in Anambra, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
He said that workers in spite of being the engine room of any government were always made to bear the weight of bad economic situations.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
He added that it was time they (workers) were carried along at the decision making level of the economy.
Obianyo said that the salary of workers, being fixed income, was fast degenerating.
According to him, their purchasing power is being affected by the devaluation of the naira, increase in electricity tariff and inflation.
The NLC leader, however, acknowledged the adverse effect of the dwindling oil prices in the world market.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
He noted that both federal and state governments were potentially viable and that the development would not affect their budgets.
Obianyo said that state governments should make deliberate efforts to tap available resources and reduce dependence on the monthly federal government allocation.
He expressed regret over the strike embarked upon by judicial workers.
“Strike does no one any good anywhere,’’ he said.
Obianyo insisted that strike would be a necessary tool of bargaining when all other measures fail to yield the desired result.
“Labour needs protection in the current economic realities.
“We are fixed income earners and we are the worst hit because what N10 could buy before may now require N50.
“Our take-home pay can no longer take us home.
“There must be true fiscal federalism when the federal government determines the pay of political office holders,’’ he told NAN.
“They should also fix workers salary and not leave us to the whims and caprices of state governors.
“The judicial workers’ strike is regrettable but it is also avoidable.
“Unless certain critical issues are addressed, there may still be more strikes.’’ (NAN)