Stakeholders are meeting in Abuja, Nigeria to brainstorm on the best possible ways of ensuring improved living wages for workers in the country and dealing with corruption.
At a National Dialogue organized by Nigeria’s Anti-graft Agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences commission (ICPC), in collaboration with Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, the dialogue drew participants from Government agencies, Labour and other institutions.
According to ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, the dialogue on living wages is important as research into the wages indicates that several policies on minimum wage in Nigeria since 1981 revealed that no attention was given to the actual living wages.
Owasanoye urged the participants to ensure data driven contributions on relevant indicators to enrich the
national living wage policy document.
“This we hope, will reduce and possibly eradicate the frequent disputes between the government and its workforce, which mostly arise as a result of sudden economic shocks, or pressures from rent seekers.
“Your contributions as key stakeholders, should be based on scientific forecasts of likely economic changes in the near to long term, to properly guide policy direction and cost of living adjustments.”
Owasanoye stressed the need for a better living wage as an antidote to corrupt practices in the civil service, describing poor living wage as an enabler for corruption in the public service.
“This practice, where public servants demand (expect and ask) or are supplied (offered and accept) bribes increases the cost of accessing public services for citizens.”
Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, represented by Mr. Alex Olebe, called on participants to extensively deliberate on ways and means living wage issues can be handled to prevent corruption in and outside the workplaces for socio-economic development in the interest of all.
He expressed hope that the dialogue would provide a veritable platform for experience sharing that would assist the Government in curbing the negative impacts of the monster known as corruption in Nigeria.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasahade Esan, represented by the Director Service Delivery, Mr. Muhammed Musa, expressed government’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
Also, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajero represented by Comrade Hauwa Mustapha, said that good wages was pivotal to working right of workers.
Also, the President of Trade union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, represented by Dr Tommy Etim, also said that better living wages must be implemented to make Nigerian workers articulate.
It is expected that, participants at end of the National dialogue will come up with a workable solution for the improvement of living wages for Nigerian workers.
