45047263_783645308651482_50803677790732288_nGREETINGS
On behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) I bring to you greetings from the leadership of the NLC. I salute the SAC and SEC of Kwara NLC under the leadership of my brother, Comrade Yekini Agunbiade for offering good leadership all the time and in particular for this mass protest.
FACTS
Please kindly recall that the NEC-in-session in Abuja recently received the report on the conclusion of the sittings of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiating Committee that took place on October 4 & 5, 2018. NEC took note that the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiating Committee arrived at N30,000 as the figure to be recommended to the Federal Government at the conclusion of its sitting.
We therefore condemned the position of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who tried to twist the truth by misinforming the public that the meeting of October 4 and 5, 2018 was inconclusive as the members of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage did not agree on a figure. The meeting was conclusive on N30,000 minimum wage
The NEC condemned wholeheartedly the recent attack against Organized Labour and workers rights by the honorable Minister as contained in a report submitted to the Federal Executive Council by the Minister of Labour and Employment and on which Government has issued a White Paper. The NEC of NLC condemned totally the application of the principle of “no work, no pay” clause in the Trade Disputes Act;. The major challenge today is the Nigerian workers are working, many of them are underpaid while some are not paid at all. There should be pay for work done. Workers on legitimate strikes recognized by law only demand for decent work. President Muhammadu Buhari should ensure that strikes should not be criminalized.
We also condemn any attempt by Ministry of Labour to arbitrarily fix the tenure for workers holding union executive positions in contravention of the provisions of ILO Convention 87; and, Prohibition or exclusion of non-card carrying members of trade unions from leading or being part of negotiation delegations of trade unions reminiscent of the Abacha military era which will be resisted.
KWARA NLC hereby Joins the NLC in organizing this mobilization and sensitization rallies for all workers to condemn the Honourable Minister of Labour against the proposed obnoxious policies of government against Organized Labour.
We also support the proposed joint organ meetings of the Central Working Committees (CWCs) of all the Labour Centres on November 2, 2018 for final preparations for a full engagement with Government on the national minimum wage.
We also support an indefinite national strike and industrial actions from November 6, 2018; except government accepts and commences the process of perfecting the payment of N30,000 as the negotiated and compromise new national minimum wage before that date. The right to strike is both a human and trade union right and cannot be taken away by any government.
ANY GOVERNOR THAT REFUSES TO PAY WORKERS SHOULD RESIGN
I use today to remind all governors that the primary purpose of governance is the security and welfare of the citizens. Therefore any governor that opposes legitimate pay for workers in his state should not stay a day longer in office.
As a labour candidate for governorship election next year in Kwara state, I want to say LP is committed to the new minimum wage and indeed living wage for Kwara workers.
REGRET
I bought my ticket to be in Ilorin with overland Airline yesterday, Monday 29th of October. I have been at the airport since 3pm for 4:30pm flight. Unfortunately at 12: 30 am mid night the flight was cancelled. That is the way Allah designed it. I will participate in the same rally in Abuja this morning but my heart with great Kwara workers!

Long live Kwara NLC!
VIVA NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS!
DOWN WITH MINISTER OF LABOUR!
DOWN WITH NO WORK, NO PAY!
WE CONDEMN ANY ATTEMPT BY GOVERNMENT TO
INTERFERE IN UNIONS AFFAIRS!!