Nurses under the aegis of
University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA) has called for a
compromise between the Federal Government (FG) and organized labour over the
new minimum wage for improved productivity and enhanced national economy.
The National Secretary of the
Association, Nurse Goodluck Nshi made the call on Monday while briefing newsmen
in Abakaliki.
He said that a peaceful
resolution of the disagreement would enable the workforce focus on its input to
move the nation forward and allow the FG concentrate on ways to tackle the
insecurity facing the country.
Nshi said that even though it is good
to index minimum wage against cost of living to cushion the sufferings of the
masses, the FG and the organized labour should appreciate the fact that issues
around minimum wage and standard of living are knotty and as such a deeper
understanding of the factors at play is necessary in finding a more
encompassing solution to the minimum wage impasse.
He recalled that in the year 2011
when minimum wage was increased from N7500 to N18000, the N18000 amounted to
$112 USD at the then exchange rate of N160 per dollar. Today, at the exchange
rate of N360 per dollar, the N30, 000 minimum wage in concern amounts to $83
USD. Therefore, even with N30, 000 minimum wage, it is understandable that there
are still gross marginal wage deficits if wages in 2019 are compared with what
they were in the year 2011 in US dollars. This notwithstanding, it is also
understandable that prices of commodities are higher today than they were in
the year 2011.
On the other hand, the price of crude
oil (which is the mainstay of our economy) has plummeted from $110 per barrel
that it sold in the year 2011 to around $60 per barrel in the year 2019. This
represents about 45% reduction in government revenue from what it used to be in
the year 2011 when compared to what it is in the current year.
“These factors need to be
considered by both FG and the organized labour for the necessary compromise to
be made to move the country forward.
On the Sallah celebration the
UGONSA scribe called on Muslims and Christians to leave harmoniously with one
another in order to move the country to the next level.
"We facilitate with our
Muslim brothers as they celebrate the 2019 Eid-el-Kabir.
"We wish you all a joyful
Sallah Celebration. May God bless you and your dear ones with Peace, Prosperity
and Happiness on this occasion of Eid-El-Kabir," Nshi said.
I don't think the masses should be ones to compromise but it should start form our so called legislators
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