The leaders of the Organized Labour in Anambra State has expressed disappointment over the State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and his government’s proposed template for the payment of the new Minimum Wage.
South East Reporters gathered that the Anambra State workforce during a meeting in Awka insisted on the use of the Federal Government consequential adjustment template for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage in the state.
Nicholas Aromeh, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Anambra State Chapter, while addressing the media called on Governor Soludo, to seriously consider using the template already set by the Federal Government in computing the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage.
The NULGE boss said that the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress leaderships in the state are all in agreement with the resolution.
Aromeh said that they are collectively, appealing to Governor Soludo, in the interest of workers to use the chart released by the Federal Government in computing the N70,000 Minimum wage.
He explained that there is an issue with the new minimum wage on ground and the labour leaders, including NLC ,TUC and NULGE, have been meeting with the Governor on the matter.
He however stressing that Anambra, unfortunately Soludo is not getting it right because from what NULGE have seen from him, and his team, NULGE is not happy, especially in the areas that affect salaries.
According to Aromeh, “Grade levels eight to 17, Government’s proposal is nothing to write home about.”
Recall that Soludo had some days ago, announced that the State has agreed to pay N70,000 as the new minimum wage, but he was silent on the contentious, template to be applied in computing the consequential adjustment, particularly for senior staff.
Aromeh explained that Soludo is linking the internally generated revenue profile of the state as what is guiding its decision over the consequential adjustment.
He however said that, “Available reports have shown that Anambra state is far better than several states that have adopted the Federal Government’s template for the new minimum wage.
”The Federal Government’s chart must be used, and not for the state to adopt a discriminatory package for workers on different grade levels.
“If what the State is bringing to the table is allowed, it means that as you progress, your take home pay will continue to go down.”
