Minimum Wage: Northern group tackles NLC over attack on Akume

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Northern Coalition for Democracy and Good Governance (NOCODGOG )has replied the Nigerian Labour Congress over the recent attack on the personality of the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr George Akume.
Mr. Akume had declared that he could not afford to pay each of his four drivers N100,000 as salary in a month.
But in reaction, the Nigerian Labour Congress via press statement issued on Friday said, it was “disheartening” that the SGF, a high-ranking government official would make a statement to trivialize the genuine grievances of Nigerian workers when he said, he can’t afford to pay his four drivers N100,000 each as salary.
According to the group in the statement signed by Comrade Abdullahi Baffa Ringim and Comrade Andrew Bartholomew Rufus, the NLC’s reaction was undoubtedly grossly insensitive and inconsiderate to the personality someone, who was a former Governor; former Senator, and the current SGF.
The further reads: “We know Akume as a patriot and a sensitive Nigerian, who considers the reality on the ground rather than playing to the gallery. He was just being honest by making such a statement over a lingering matter of minimum wage for workers.
“The statement Akume made was because he didn’t steal public funds while in positions of authority held over the years. It is only corrupt leaders and thieves that afford to pay such unrealistic demands by Labour unions.
“We also deemed it unacceptable for NLC to express disappointment over Akume’s comments, where the SGF described the “legitimate and constitutionally protected industrial action” as a “treasonable felony” and “economic sabotage”.