No fewer than 500 Christian clerics under the aegis of the Synods of Charismatic Bishop Conference of Nigeria led by Archbishop Leonard Kawas have waded into the lingering crisis over minimum wage between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The WHISTLER reported that the Nigeria Labour Congress had said the government must accede to its demands on minimum wage based on practical realities in the country.
The NLC also faulted a statement by President Bola Tinubu during a meeting with some governors and members of the National Assembly on the occasion of the nation’s 25th Democracy Day anniversary.
Tinubu had said that the government would only be able to pay its workers what the country can afford.
“Senate president, deputy senate president, you will get a notice from me if I have changed my mind on minimum wage. We are going to do it — what Nigeria can afford, what you can afford, what I can afford. They ask you to cut your coat according to your size if you have size at all,” Tinubu had said.
But following the deadlock, the Charismatic Bishops called on both the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress to sheath the sword and allow reason to prevail.
They also enjoined all and sundry to embark on prayers believing that with fervent prayers by the citizenry, Nigeria would overcome the current socio-economic hardship in the country.
Consequences, the President-General of CBCN, Archbishop Kawas, in a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday, urged the NLC to continue to engage the Federal Government in negotiation.
This, the Bishops said, was to avert further strike that would increase inflation and unnecessary hardship on Nigerians.
The Synod, celebrating its 10th anniversary with participants of Nigerians from 21 countries and attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, also expressed concern over the high electricity tariff in Nigeria and urged the organised labour to dialogue with the Federal Government.
The statement read partly, “the Synod also wade into the crisis of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the federal government and pleaded with the federal government to dialogue with the Labour and be considerate of the present condition of the economy.
“The Synod also called upon the NLC not to shut down the country, but to continue with the negotiation to avoid more inflation and more hardship.
“NLC should not shut down the country in the name of strike, but continue with negotiation, and pray that there will be a resolution between the Labour and the federal government.
“But with all seriousness, any attempt to shut down the whole country, there will be great losses the nation is going to lose”.
Negotiate Minimum Wage That Won’t Lead To Strike – Bishops Tell FG, NLC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper