NLC negotiates enhanced pay from Oyo govt

The Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joint negotiating council, Oyo state council, Comrade Remi Adediji has said that the labour union is set to negotiate enhanced pay package from the state government any moment from now to improve the welfare conditions of the workforce.

Adediji who represented the Chairman of the state NLC, Comrade Bashir Olanrewaju at the opening ceremony of the 2013 press week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday said the enhanced salary pay being demanded would right the wrongs and the clogs perceived in the current minimum wage structure.

He said the clause contained in the N18, 000 minimum wage agreed to by the national body of NLC that each state should pay according to their peculiarity is confusing and unacceptable.

Also, he condemned the present situation whereby state governments hide under the N18,000 minimum wage and implemented it for levels one to six, leaving other levels six and above unattended to, in line with the minimum salary structure, left much to be desired.

Adediji therefore said the union would do all within its power to ensure that its members enjoy the enhanced pay from the government, just as he also tasked NUJ leaders to collaborate with NLC at the national level to ensure that journalists receive better salaries as against the present 'stipends' being given to them as salaries. 

The labour leader said going by the nature of journalism and the hazard of its practice, the members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm deserve better welfare conditions; insurance package from their employers and above all, adequate and enhanced remuneration capable of making them to do the job according to the ethics and dictates of the profession.

Also, other labour leaders like the Zonal Chairperson of the Independent Marketers Branch of NUPENG, Comrade Joke Oyeleke, the Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, University of Ibadan chapter, Barrister Wale Akinremi and the Chairman, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Dr. O.O. Ayena in their goodwill/solidarity messages called for an end to FG/ASUU imbroglio.

Others who delivered goodwill messages at the event were the FRSC State Deputy Commander, Rotimi Adeleye, Assistant Comptroller of Customs for Oyo/Osun Area Command, L.S.O. Bashorun, the state Deputy Commandant of NSCDC, Bolade Oyatobo and the General Secretary of Academic Staff Union of the Polytechnics, Ibadan chapter, Adebayo Adegboyega.