COVID-19: Labour speaks on attempts by governments to cut salaries

As governments and people around the world grapple with devastating economic effect of coronavirus pandemic, umbrella body of workers in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to resist moves to reduce salaries of workers by Nigerian government.

The President of the body, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a message to mark this year International Workers Memorial Day said local chapters had been mandated to be at alert to resist any move by any governor to reduce workers’ salaries.

“This is not the time to stop or deduct from workers’ salaries. Such an action would be both illogical and illegal as workers’ salaries are core elements of employment contracts and collective bargaining agreements”. 

“We have asked our affiliates and state councils to resist any salary deduction on the account of COVID-19. We reassure our workers that our priority in these trying times remains the cautious, gradual, evidenced led and smart restart of the economy so that our workers can go back to work”.

“We are also completely committed to the recovery of lost jobs, protection of wages, support for income and livelihood and improvement of Nigeria’s social safety net,” Wabba said.