The Labour Party governorship candidate in Kwara State, Comrade Issa Aremu mni has said that the Tuesday proposed nationwide strike by the organised labour is preventable and avoidable if President Muhammadu Buhari signs the Executive Bill on new National Minimum Wage before the appointed date.
Comrade Aremu appealed to President Buhari to sign the Bill into law and talk to the thirty six state governors to sit up towards implementing it in their various states.
The Labour Party Governorship candidate disclosed this during a get together he organised for market women and men as part of activities for the new year celebration held at the ‘Knowledge Platform Hall’, an affiliate of Mustapha Akanbi Foundation, GRA, Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
He commended the President Buhari for being a labour friendly leader by coming to the rescue of Nigerian workers at various times through series of bailouts to governors which unfortunately some of them diverted for selfless reasons.
“President Buhari is labour friendly, he told governors to take salary payment promptly. He challenged them why they were able to sleep when unpaid salaries put workers in a state of agony.
“He has also set up a Presidential Minimum Wage Committee, it is the most expanded committee we have ever had in the country where about eight governors are in that committee, all in the name of providing enabling environment and good welfarism packages for Nigerian workers” he added.
The Labour leader also urged the National Assembly to resume back to legislative duties by giving the Bill the urgent attention it deserved in the interest of masses they are representing.
He frowned at the attitudes of some governors for not showing the passion to pay the new minimum wage and saying it publicly that they would not pay it, describing wage theft or delay in workers salary as genocide and unconstitutional.
“Any governor that is opposed the new minimum wage is running against the spirit of constitution. President should leave labour with any governor that is not ready to pay the new minimum wage, anyway, workers are in the states, they can deal with their governors who is not sensitive to their plight” he said.
Comrade Aremu, who is currently the Vice President, IndustrialL Global Union, declared that no government can run a successful economy in a situation where workers are not paid good salary, adding that payment of entitlement to workers was also another way of instilling discipline and promoting productivity in the service.
The foremost labour leader disclosed that his administration would prioritise welfare of workers as they would not only be paid minimum wage but living wage.
Comrade Aremu lamented poor salary of workers in the state, saying that payment of commensurate take home to workers in the state would enhance and improve their level of productivity.
The governorship hopeful said “tears are not enough, let us wipe off our tears. We can agonise but let’s organise to bring in new government; from darkness to light, from bad roads to good roads, from poverty to prosperity and from famine to surplus and abundance”.
He however congratulated the Cuba government over her 60th anniversary of its revolution led by the then president, Fidel Castro who he said stood for the growth and emancipation of Cuba and other nations including Nigeria.
He announced that he is inviting Cuba Ambassador to grace his flag off campaign next week, adding that his government would partner with Cuba government in various sectors of economy.
He said if elected as governor of kwara state in this year election, he would take inspiration from Cuba and other nations that pride themselves with developmental projects and programmes for the good living of Nigerian citizens.
Aremu pointed out that Cuba represents a symbol of independence, welfare, health for all, saying that Nigeria should take a leaf from Cuba’s good governance, and popular integrity which has apparently earned the country one of the most enviable nations in the world today.
He had earlier visited the Hope Orphanage Home at Idofian in Ifelodun local government area of the state to celebrate new year with the orphans.
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