Revolutionary Greetings!
We the undersigned since the culmination of the July 18th pseudo negotiations of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress with the Federal Government of Nigeria have conducted a wide collection of reactions and opinions expressed by Nigerians (home and abroad) over the proposed minimum wage.
This communique therefore is the sum of reactions, positions and demands of Nigerians on the subject matter:
POSITIONS:
AGREEMENT WITHOUT CONSULTATION: the process leading to the “agreement” is flawed for the reason that agreeing with the proposed “minimum wage” was done unilaterally by NLC and TUC’s aristocrats and bureaucrats without “congressional unanimity” from the rank and file of poor workers across state branches. This is clear treachery and a total sellout. This, in the first instance renders the “agreements” reached lacking in moral and legal force.
Thus, NIGERIANS DEMAND A TOTAL REJECTION OF THE PROPOSED SLAVE WAGE!
SEVENTY THOUSAND IS SLAVE WAGE: Nigerians condemn and REJECT the proposed minimum wage for being too far below the barest minimum needed to scrap a living. In the face of destructive draconian economic policies imposed by this administration, galloping inflation worsened by food insecurity makes the proposed wage a slave wage.
As a result of the biting economic realities, Nigerians DEMAND A TOTAL REJECTION OF THE #70K SLAVE WAGE!
RIDICULOUS REASONS FOR ACCEPTING THE PROPOSED WAGE: Nigerians are disappointed in the reasons given by the leadership of Labour for accepting the proposed slave wage.
In its NEC communique issued Friday 19th, the NEC of NLC said it accepted the slave wage “to avert a threatened further hike in the price of petrol which would inflict more hardship on the already suffering masses.”
To this hare brained and unreasonable excuse, we say that the Labour aristos submitted to empty threats rather than the reasonable interest of the suffering masses. It must be noted that this administration has removed subsidy on PMS and devalued the Naira. Thus, the prices of fuel and the value of Naira are well beyond the regulatory powers of government but rather at the mercy of the evil hands of market forces. This is obvious in the queues and sprinting and uncontrollable prices of fuel and staples.
Thus, Nigerians REJECT THE BASIS FOR THE PROPOSED SLAVE WAGE!
DEMANDS:
Nigerians demand that the NLC and TUC should desist from its aristocratic posture and immediately mobilize the rank and file of the masses and working for congresses and conferences to discuss and resolve not just the issues of a living wage but also the untold economic hardships confronting the Nigerians. NLC can and should take a cue from the Ali Chiroma led NLC of 1984-1988. That leadership is a shining example of the roles of the Workers Movement not limited to wages but also economy, good governance, policy development etc.
The NLC should mobilize the masses of Nigerians to demand the crushing anti-people austerity measures unleashed on the masses which a #70K slave wage cannot address!
TO THE NLC BUREAUCRACY:
The working people own the NLC & the TUC and not some self acclaimed aristocracy nor bureaucracy.
Nigerian Workers/Masses will resist and will not hesitate to demand the resignation or pass a vote of no confidence on any leadership which is a roadblock or bottleneck in the way of these just demands!
ALUTA CONTINUA, VICTORIA ASCERTA!!!
Signed:
OBAFEMI SODUNOLA TROTSKY
OPEYEMI OLUSEGUN ODUNTAN
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