The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo State branch, Rev. Eches Divine Eches, has urged the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to reconsider its decision to embark on a nationwide industrial action starting today.
Eches, who made the appeal in a statement issued in Owerri yesterday, said the proposed strike would further cripple the nation’s economy and aggravate the sufferings of the masses.
He opined that the demand by the Labour union for the state government to pay a minimum wage of ₦494,000 is not feasible and unenforceable, given the country’s current economic challenges.
He said, “Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, is from my state, Imo. Can Mr. Ajaero honestly say that Imo State or any other state government in the South East can pay a minimum wage of ₦494,000 without collapsing?
“Even the organised private sector cannot pay that amount and has publicly aligned with the government to say let’s start somewhere and grow steadily.
“Does Joe Ajaero want to collapse the Nigerian economy? If not, why is he making impossible demands? Even his friends who own businesses cannot and have never paid any of their staff ₦400,000.
“Does Mr. Ajaero want the Federal Government to push for a new minimum wage law that is unenforceable by all tiers of government and the organised private sector?
“He wants the minimum wage to increase by 1500%. Has Nigeria’s revenue expanded by 1500%? Does he want us to suffer Venezuelan and Zimbabwean-style hyperinflation?”
The Imo CAN boss, who is also the Chairman of the TEKAN/ECWA Fellowship (Bloc) South East, further queried, “What will a national strike achieve if not national strife? Mr. Ajaero has called more strikes than the last four presidents of the Nigerian Labour Congress combined.
“Something is wrong somewhere. If we are fighting for workers, let us fight with love for the country and mature reasoning. Any wrong fight could sabotage the economy and make things worse for the workers and the nation as a whole.
“I therefore wish to appeal to the NLC leadership and the Federal Government to return to dialogue with an open and honest mind to avert any damage to our already fragile economy.”
