TINA AMANDA
Organised Labour has threatened to shut down the nation on the 6th of November, if the government fails to implement the new minimum wage.
The organised labour in a joint rally with civil society organizations walked from Nigerian labour congress office in Igbokwe D/line Portharcourt to government house.
Speaking at the sensitization rally, President of United labour Congress (ULC) Comrade Igwe Achese, said Nigerian workers will no longer be enslaved in their own country, stressing that the average Nigerian worker struggles with peanuts, while politicians live in opulence.
“this rally is a rally to match through the streets of Portharcourt against good governance, transparency, accountability, against irregular and improper appropriations that has continued to consume the hardworking Nigerian workers. Workers create wealth there is no argument on it, and we are here to see the governor of Rivers state and deliver our message to him as organised labour”
On her part, state chairman Nigerian labour congress (NLC) Beatrice Itubo, urged President Buhari to shun every negative advice that will deter him from implementing the new minimum wage.
“We know that, they are trying to mislead the president, he is the people’s president and we know his anti-corruption fight, we are saying let him pay us the new national minimum wage. Some of the governors are saying they will not pay because they want to have much money that they would begin to loot, but we thank God, that our Rivers state governor Barrister Nyesom Wike has agreed to pay the minimum wage”
Also speaking, state chairman United labour congress, comrade Innocent Lord-Douglass, said all sea ports, airports and fuel stations will shut down operations till the minimum wage is implemented.
“Come sixth of next month electricity will be shut down, no plane is going to fly, be you big man or small man every one will suffer the heat till the money is approved. Filling stations will shutdown, no flying boat or taxi will run. We want to beg on the governor of Rivers state to influence other governor’s that are refusing to pay in order to avert this strike”
