Salary Increase: Labour begs traders not to increase prices of goods and services

October 19 07:17 2019 by The Ajasa News Print This Article

By Martin Odiete

The Nigeria Labour Congress has begged Nigeria traders not take advantage of the increase in salaries to arbitrarily increase prices of goods and services.

NLC stated this in a statement made available shortly after the agreement with the Federal Government was reached, noting that the increases will only benefit Nigerians if the traders do not create unnecessary inflation.

“This will however only be sustainable if traders and providers of essential services refrain from artificial inflation of the prices of goods and services. It makes more sense to sell more at a stable price than sell little or nothing at inflated prices. Certainly, we have learnt from our past mistakes that inflation of prices with adjustment in salaries is a roulette game in which the downtrodden masses are the victims.

The Union also stated that the whole process was totally rewarding, stressing that they were able to disappoint the antics of those whose interest was not with the Nigerian workers.

“We wish to emphasize that the hard-won salary adjustment will benefit all categories of workers including those in the military and para military services. Apart from workers, the recent salary increase will also benefit ordinary citizens especially those in the informal sector as the increase in the available disposable income of workers will translate into a stronger purchasing power for our people.

“We also call on government to refrain from introducing counter-productive economic policies and decisions that would erode the recent wage gain achieved by workers. Any further increase in the prices of petroleum products, electricity tariff and personal income taxes would amount to collecting with the left hand what is given to workers with the right hand. The leadership of organized labour will resist such move.

“Arising from our successful negotiation with the Federal Government, it is expected that all employers of labour in the public sector must ensure that all the necessary formalities for a smooth implementation of the negotiated salaries based on the new national minimum wage are carried out with immediate effect.

“While commending state governments that have already commenced implementation of the new national minimum wage, we urge that the implementation should be a product of collective bargaining process in line with ILO Convention 98 on Organizing and Collective Bargaining.

“Furthermore, all employers of labour in the thirty-six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as the Organized Private Sector (OPS) are expected to complete the implementation process of the new national minimum wage and consequential wage adjustment forthwith.

“State Councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress are hereby directed to offer leadership and work harmoniously with the TUC and JNPSNC and all unions to ensure effective implementation of the new national minimum wage and the consequential salary adjustment that must be reached through a process of collective bargaining,” the statement concluded.