Ex-Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has faulted wage exploitation in Nigeria, warning that poor compensation negatively affects national security and economic productivity.
He stated this at the Distinguished Personality Lecture organized by the National Institute for Security Studies, NISS, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Oshiomhole highlighted how inadequate wages create a cycle of economic hardship, making workers vulnerable to manipulation and radicalization.
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The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, said despite the increase in the new minimum wage recently approved by the Federal Government, Nigerian workers were poorer now than before.
The lecture, titled āNational Minimum Wage: Reward System and Productivity in Africa,ā was part of the Executive Intelligence Management Course, EIMC 17, aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the relationship among wages, security, and productivity
According to him, fair wages were essential to boost workersā motivation, efficiency, and overall economic growth.
āWorkers face fluctuating salaries and job insecurity, as employers can easily hire and fire employees.
āDespite paying union dues, workers often receive minimal support from trade unions, leading to questioning their effectiveness.
āHistorically, the right to organize was suppressed, which limited workersā ability to negotiate collectively. Industrial sabotage emerged as a form of protest against poor conditions.
āCollective bargaining and the right to strike are essential tools for negotiating fair wages and working conditions. Workers often resort to āwork to ruleā when rights are restricted.
āSignificant disparities exist between minimum and maximum wages across sectors, leading to dissatisfaction among workers. The wealthy often benefit from state protection, while the poor struggle.
āThe minimum wage is designed to protect vulnerable workers but is often not enforced. Setting minimum wages too high can risk job losses while setting them too low can lead to exploitation.
āInflation severely impacts purchasing power, making it difficult for workers to maintain a decent standard of living. Historical comparisons show that many workers are poorer now than in the past, despite nominal wage increases,ā he said.
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