Lawmakers ’ pay: NLC may embark on strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) has
threatened to embark on another strike
against what it termed the outrageous
annual basic salary of the lawmakers.
It described the basic salary as injurious
to the economy.
NLC said the legislators ’ basic salary per
annum is unfair , insensitive and
unsustainable .
The Vice- President of the NLC , Comrade
Issa Aremu , spoke yesterday in Ilorin,
the Kwara State capital , at a National
Women Workshop organised by the
National Union of Textiles, Garments
and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria
( NUTGTWN ).
Its theme is : “Leadership skills
development for women members of
NUTGTWN . ”
Over 80 participants came from over 30
states .
Aremu , who is also the General-
Secretary of NUTGTWN , urged the
lawmakers to demonstrate statesmanship
by reviewing downwards their annual
emoluments.
Said he: “ Their salary is not even linked
to their productivity. If they refuse , we
must call them to order. Their
constituents should call them to order .
They can’ t be holier than the Pope .
“ If they refuse to reduce their salary ,
we will take the battle to their
constituencies. Anything short of this
will make us take to the streets and NLC
is ready to lead the way.
“ How can a legislator earn about
$ 189, 000 ( N 30. 24 million) as basic
salary per annum ? Our lawmakers are
the second highest paid in the world
next to those in Australia.”
Comrade Aremu said it would take a
worker earning the monthly minimum
wage of N 18 ,000 about 140 years to
save N 30 .24 million “ if the worker saves
his whole salary .”
NLC said it would take an average
worker 667 years to be at the same
salary level with a lawmaker whose total
emolument per annum is put at about
N 46 million.
These disparities , according to the NLC,
could not be divorced from the present
widening gap between the ruling class
and the masses.
It urged a review of the system to save
the nation from collapse .
Aremu said a strike could be the most
potent weapon to be employed if the
lawmakers failed to heed their advice .
“ This is a persuasive approach now , but
if they refuse , we will march to their
constituencies and if they still pauperize
Nigerians , we will take to the streets to
show them the power of the electorate
over the elected. How can a Nigerian
legislator be earning more than the
American President?”
The NLC leader described as
paradoxical , the condition of Nigerians
whose country is ranked 12th in the
hierarchy of oil producing nations, but
they could seldom afford daily meals .
He said : “ Our leaders should stop their
mantras on the deportation of the
destitute. Rather , they should be
worried on how to curb destitution. The
basic key to eradicate destitution is
provision of employment. The surest
way to provide employment is by
resuscitating our moribund industries .
“ Those using motorcycles for
commercial purposes are not in
employment, because soon they will no
longer enjoy patronage as everybody
you see now uses motorcycles for
commercial reasons . In any case, why
should Diploma holders be using
motorcycles as a means of livelihood ?
We at the labour are seeing this
joblessness of the youth at the face of
the nation’ s affluence as a class war
against the less privileged . We will not
allow it because if we do , someone may
one day order the deportation of sacked
workers to their states of origin .”