Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has described as wicked any state government that claims it cannot pay N30,000.00 minimum wage which has been agreed by the federal government and the Nigerian workers’ unions.
The CNPP, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu commended the labour movement “for remaining committed to the struggle for a living wage for the Nigerian workforce, who are the ones generating the government revenue at all levels.”
The umbrella organisation of all the registered political parties and political associations noted that “it is time for the Nigerian government at all levels to come to terms with reality and stop playing politics with workers’ welfare.
“These workers we are talking about have families and defendants to take care of, not to mention the expenses they incur as they go to work daily.
“At the Nigeria’s federal capital territory, for instance, some workers reside in neighboring states like Niger and Nasarawa because they cannot afford to pay exorbitant residential rents in the city center.
“The same is the case in some states, yet some governors are saying that they cannot afford to pay N30,000.00 minimum wage, less than $100 a month, while they can spend millions on fueling their long convoys monthly.
“We believe that governor who cannot pay N30,000.00 minimum wage is wicked and should honourably vacate his seat so that a better manager can occupy it.
“The governors should visit states like Lagos, Enugu and others to understudy how they are able to pay salaries and pensions.
“The Enugu State example is unique because the state is not industrialized and not on the list of oil producing states yet the governor has been paying 13th month salary as bonus to the state workforce”, the CNPP stated.
