The President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo, disclosed in Abuja that only 14 states in Nigeria are honoring wage awards, while 22 others remain indifferent to the welfare of their workers.
Osifo emphasized the urgent need for action, indicating that labor leaders would convene to address this issue, signaling a forthcoming confrontation with non-compliant state leadership.
This development follows President Bola Tinubu’s appeal to state governors to implement wage awards to mitigate the impact of petrol subsidy removal and curb potential inflationary effects associated with the impending new minimum wage.
The TUC’s vigilance in highlighting governors’ disregard for worker welfare deserves praise, as many state executives seem apathetic towards improving the livelihoods of their employees.
However, it’s essential to acknowledge that some states’ failure to implement wage awards may also stem from shortcomings within the state labor leadership.
For instance, despite receiving substantial monthly allocations, Delta State has yet to prioritize paying its workers the approved N35,000 wage award, highlighting a failure of leadership at the state level.
TUC’s national leadership should address these internal lapses to ensure effective advocacy for workers’ rights, especially as the nation prepares for the rollout of a new minimum wage.
Convening the planned meeting and taking decisive action against non-compliant states would send a clear message to governors that adherence to wage regulations is non-negotiable.
This proactive stance by federal labor unions against recalcitrant governors is crucial, considering that, in many instances, state executives, with the support of local labor chapters, pose significant obstacles to workers’ interests.
