Why Buhari must increase minimum wage now – NLC

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC,
Mr. Ayuba Wabba, yesterday, urged President
Muhammadu Buhari to increase workers’ current
minimum wage without further delay.
He said the demand by the organized labour was in
view of the economic recession, noting that N18,
000 was not an amount that any worker can
survive on.
Wabba said increment was the strategy the United
States used to address recession.
He argued that the economy cannot return to its
former state unless the citizens have purchasing
power.
“The state of the country’s economy requires that
we increase minimum wage. We need to empower
the people to buy and sell. If the economy is at
standstill and people cannot buy, the economy will
not grow.
“It is the workers’ money that keeps the economy
growing. It is not the fund disbursed for big
contracts that are kept in different accounts
that keeps the country economy growing.
“That was the logic that helped the United States
to revive their economy,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has urged Nigerians
to always speak positively about the country in
spite of the current economic recession.
Buhari made the call at the 7th National Prayer
Breakfast organised by the National Assembly on
Thursday in Abuja.
Represented at the occasion by the Secretary to
Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal,
Buhari assured Nigerians that the recession would
end very soon as the government was doing all
within its power to restore the economy of the
country.
“As Christians and political leaders, we must strive
to be the light of the world by speaking positively
concerning the state of the nation.
“These hard times we are in, require leaders who
are aware of the situation to stand in the gap to
see how to turn the situation around.
“I have total faith that Nigeria will emerge from
this crisis strong, united and prosperous, this will
come to fruition in the lifetime of this
government.
“Also as Christians and leaders we should all thank
God for the opportunity to be key player in this
time of economic meltdown,” Lawal admonished.