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N70,000 national minimum wage a disaster—Federal workers

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Federal workers in Nigeria have described the 70,000 Naira national minimum wage as a disaster. The workers made this assertion in a letter to President Ahmed Tinubu dated 8th April, 2025, titled WHAT IS OUR OFFENSE? FEDERAL WORKERS HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH; THIS HARDSHIP IS UNBEARABLE; STOP THIS TORTURE , and signed by the National Coordinator (FWF), Comrade Andrew Emelieze, and Secretary General, Comrade Itoro Obong. ''Mr. President, you can not pretend not to hear us; federal workers are calling for justice. Our well-being is not taken seriously by you. The 70,000 naira minimum wage is a ridiculous disaster; it cannot even suffice as a transportation allowance for less than five workers for a month. We have been abandoned and neglected. The recent minimum wage is one of the testimonies of our plights. The mere fact that the benchmark for the minimum wage is N70,000 does not mean that the federal workers should be paid that minimum. Is it not a shame that some st...
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Workers Welfare: Michael Imoudu as a Role Model 3



Discrimination was the order of the day during the colonial era. In November, 1947, Imoudu led others to demonstrate against racial discrimination at the Bristol Hotel, Lagos. 
In the cause of the demonstration, he was physically assaulted and arrested by the Police.
However, of worry, is the self-preservation approach of present day labour leaders.
At different times, he mobilized the conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to protest against colonial rule and also workers and peasants for the independence movement led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, during the nationwide tour of the National Council of Nigeria Citizens (NCNC), to raise funds and support for the Nigerian delegation to the constitutional conference in London.
The Labour wing of the NC-Democratic Grand  Alliance, of which Imoudu was a member, won four seats in the Lagos Town Council elections in 1950.
In 1964, Imoudu  led the general strike  against the restriction of Democracy, which was  targeted at compelling the Government to implement the report of the Morgan commission. In addition, he was a member of the Marxist Socialist Workers and Farmers Party.
In the Second Republic, he was Vice President of the Peoples Redemption Party(PRP) led by Mallam Aminu Kano.
His track record formed the basis for his becoming the founding President of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) in 1964. The NLC of today possess a different design and ideology.
Sadly, pragmatic approach to labour issues and concepts remain lacking, even as Labour leaders' sacrifices and tribulations for Nigerian workers are cosmetic, debatable and trailed by controversy.
Those in the labour struggle, with Imoudu's frame of mind and character are relatively few and extremely difficult to identify, in these days of ''he who pays the piper, dictates the tune''.

Solomon Adewunmi is the Editor-in-Chief , The New Federation(news2day.emyspot.com)/Liberty Port(2day.emyspot.com)/Federationews2day(one.emyspot.com). He attended Ajeromi Ifelodun High School, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos/Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan and the University of Lagos. Solomon possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, BBC/EC CERTIFICATE IN NEWS JOURNALISM (FEB. 2001), CERTIFICATE IN ARTS AND CULTURE CRITICISM (NANTAP MAY 2001) ,CERTIFICATE IN PEACE JOURNALISM (JUSTICE,DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE COMMISSION), CERTIFICATE IN CONFLICT ANALYSIS[UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM, OCT.2004] ,CERTIFICATE IN INTERFAITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION( UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE, JAN. 2009).

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Ceaseless Prayers

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 Let us pray ceaselessly for God to open the eyes of those who have political power and have become committed to unjust economic policies and deep social injustices.  Amos 8:4-14 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes;  yea , and sell the refuse of the wheat? 7 The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as  by  the flood of Egypt. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I wi...
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Lawmakers are very far from Nigerians-Comrade Emelieze

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Lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly have long ceased to represent the electorate in Nigeria. This assertion was made by the convener of the Federal Workers Forum, Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''For some years now, the elected representatives of Nigerians in both chambers of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly have stopped representing the people. They now represent their self-centered interests. Have they done enough to reverse the economic hardships giving Nigerians sleepless nights?'' ''It has been zero intervention as regards the present economic hardships confronting Nigerians. Are those in the legislature just passing time? What is the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature? The answer is the relationship is symbiotic. This is the major reason why they have enough time for frivolities and non-issues. The lawmakers are very far from their constituents and are not in touch with the pa...
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Oyo Government not taking our welfare seriously-Health Workers

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  Some health workers in Oyo state have expressed reservations over the continued delay of the state government to meet their demands. The health workers, who are members of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals(NUAHP), Hospital Management Board unit, lamented that the state government ''is not taking our welfare seriously.'' ''The state government has continued to treat health workers on its payroll with levity. We are not happy about this, the government should urgently address our demands, they stated. However, the chairman of the unit, Comrade Olanrewaju Ajani disclosed that of all the demands of the health workers, the state government had only reviewed the hazard allowance. ''Before the 21-day ultimatum we gave the state government on 4th March 2024 elapsed, the government appealed to us to be patient. We appeal to the state government to do something on time. We have provided enough evidence. It is only the hazard allowance that has bee...
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