The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) B-Zone says any move to delist the national minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent will impoverish workers.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure on Monday by Mr Dele Atunbi, the NUJ Vice President for the zone.
According to the statement, the union is of the opinion that a proposal being spearheaded by the Senate for delistment will make negotiation of wages difficult for industrial unions.
“The listing of the national minimum wage in the exclusive legislative list is a prescriptive measure to save the workers from the hands of shylocks who might want to take advantage of the free economy to enslave the workforce.
“The union challenges the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to be alive to their responsibilities by protecting the interest of the entire workforce either in the private or public sector,” it said.
It pointed out that the development would make negotiation of salary and allowances difficult, wondering why the two major trade unions were not invited to the public forum organised by the Senate where the issue was discussed.
The union appealed to the National Assembly to halt deliberations on the legislation in the interest of the entire workers in the country.
