Strike: African students support group solidarises with labour
He regretted that in spite poor salaries paid to Nigerian workers, the salaries did not come as and when due in most cases as it seemed to be a privilege instead of the right of workers.
“The present working condition of workers in Nigeria is not acceptable.
“ The present minimum wage doesn’t conform to economic condition of Nigeria, therefore the demand for an increase is a right course that has general solidarity and support of ASESI.
“When workers are not paid well, parents find it hard to sponsor their children efficiently, therefore the demand for increase in minimum wage is also indirect demand for better welfare for Nigerian students.
“It is important that teachers and lecturers in all institutions of learning join the strike as their condition seems to be the worst.
“ A teacher who cannot feed well cannot have anything to offer to students, a lecturer that is not well paid will end up extorting the students to make ends meet.’’
He said that most people who were qualified to teach would rather look for well paid jobs because of the poor salaries teachers earned in Nigeria.
According to Obasi, who is the immediate past President of the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), said that teachers are assets that deserve good welfare, as Nigerian students need to be taught by well-motivated teachers.
Organised labour had directed its members to embark on a nationwide strike effective Thursday over Federal Government’s failure to adopt a new national minimum wage.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, on Wednesday met with labour leaders who were part of the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage to give them an update on government’s position.
The minister and the leadership of organised labour agreed to reconvene the meeting of the National Minimum Wage Committee on Oct. 4.
