Chris Awhawha
What could be described as partial strike called upon by Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over alleged minimum wage default, has commenced in some part of Kaduna.l metropolis.
It was gathered that some government primary schools sent its pupils back home on Monday, alleging strike action.
Why Kaduna state government, in a statement on weekend said it has commenced payment of Minimum Wage, NLC differed, saying the state defaulted and failed to comply with the wage directives.
The statement stressed that Governor Uba Sani has commenced the implementation of the national minimum wage in Kaduna State, “so it is a misrepresentation for NLC to claim that the state has defaulted”.
The statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Malam Ibraheem Musa on Sunday, decried NLC’s lumping of Kaduna State with others, describing it “as grossly unfair because the least paid worker received N72,000 as gross salary in the month of November.’’
“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, has complied with the spirit and letter of the National Minimum Wage Law, by paying the lowest paid civil servant N72,000 last month.
“NLC is harping on the issue of consequential adjustment but the labour body should realise that there is difference between salary increment and Minimum Wage,’’ the statement explained.
“Kaduna State receives an average of N8 billion from Federal Account Allocation Committee(FAAC) from the centre every month. It also generates around N4 bn monthly. That translates to N12 billion revenue monthly.’’
“However, the monthly wage bill has jumped from N5.4 billion to N6.3 billion with implementation of the Minimum Wage last month. And there is also the deduction of N4 billion for loan payment every month.
“So, the wage bill and the deduction have gulped over N10 million out of the total N12 billion revenue. That leaves only N2 billion for rural transformation, overhauling the health sector, revamping education and providing dividends of democracy to the people of Kaduna State,’’ he said.
The release noted that it will be unfair for Kaduna State Government to spend almost all its revenue on consequential adjustments, after paying the mandatory Minimum Wage.
“There are over 10 million people who are also entitled to the accrued revenue of Kaduna State. There are 84,827 civil servants in the state. So, it is unreasonable for Government to spend over 90% of its revenue on just about !% of the population,” he explained.
The spokesman urged NLC to exercise patience over the consequential adjustments, pending when Government’s revenue improves, adding that Governor Uba Sani is Labour-friendly.
The statement reminded that Kaduna State Government has already bought buses for civil servants which will convey them to and from work free of charge, as part of the palliatives to cushion the prevailing economic challenges.
Earlier, NLC decried default in payment of minimum wage as promised, threatening strike action on second December, in line with its national Union directive.