Ex-ASUU Chair Advocates Review of National Wage Every 3 years
A former Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Ilorin chapter, Professor AbdulRasheed Abiodun Adeoye, has urged the organised labour to initiate a national bill for review of existing wages every three years.
He said the proposed legal framework should be replicated in all levels of government.
Adeoye stated this as part of recommendations of the paper he delivered at a Ramadan lecture organised in memory of Hajia Hamudalat Abiodun Aremu, late wife of a labour leader, Comrade Issa Aremu, held in Ilorin at the weekend.
The lecture titled “Perspectives on Labour Wages and the Nigerian Situation” was at the instance of Kwara State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Adeoye, who is a Professor of the Performing Arts, said once the wage bill becomes a law, labour wages could be effectively considered along with the rate of inflation and other socio-economic variables.
As a measure to reflect the reality of salary crisis, the don queried the structure of governance, which he said, was tilted to patronage by the politicians.
“Why can’t there be serious pruning down of unnecessary structure of governance and patronage by the political class?
“What about the issue of mass retrenchment which is now at an alarming rate in Nigeria? Certainly, this is not the best of time for government at all levels and for workers and labour leaders in Nigeria. In fact, labour leaders must constantly be on their toes to reinvent the sociological process between themselves and their members on one hand, and the government on the other.
“It is hereby recommended that NLC should sponsor a national bill in which government at all levels will review existing labour wages every three year.
“Once this bill is signed into law, labour wages can effectively be considered along with the rate of inflation and other socio-economic variables at the micro and macro levels.
“The delay in negotiating for new labour wages often makes the workers to be the loosers. NLC should also note that their members working in the private sector of the economy need their attention. They need their protection, support and encouragement”, Adeoye said.