From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Nigerian Labour Congress has called on the National Assembly to retain Labour and the National Minimum Wage on the Exclusive Legislative List under the Second Schedule Part 1 (34) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Kogi State Chapter, Comr. Onuh Edoka made the demand while presenting a 72 page memorandum on behalf of the Nigerian Labour Congress at a two day review/Public hearing on the constitutional amendment by the committee on constitution review Public hearing, North Central Public hearing holding in Lokoja, the state capital.
Comr. Edoka also said that the Nigerian workers want a retention of the general administration of pension as currently captured in Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution and as listed under Second Schedule Part | (34) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Other demands as listed in the submission of the Kogi State NLC Chairman on behalf of Nigerian workers include:
That the National Assembly should favourably consider the demands for the full realization of local government autonomy, legislative autonomy, autonomy for the judiciary arm of government.
The NLC Chairman also wants the National Assembly to consider the workers submissions on strengthening
and promoting socio-economic and cultural rights of Nigerians especially as captured under Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution under review.
Onu Edoka noted that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is a pan Nigerian organization with a history that transcends Nigeria’s independence.
He said that as a pan Nigerian and pro-people organization, the views and Positions of Organized Labour in Nigeria are divorced from partisan, ethnic, religious or any other sectional consideration.
According to the NLC Boss, the Nigeria Labour Congress, as part of its contribution as a social partner in nation building has been involved in all the constitution review processes in Nigeria including the last National Constitutional Conference in 2014.
He said that the submissions of the NLC at the different constitution review engagements are anchored on promoting inclusive socio-economic development, decent work, génder equality, respect for labour standards, good governance and strengthening of institutions.
“We have categorized our presentation into two broad areas: Core Labour Issues and Socio-economic, Culcural and Political Issues. For the core labour issues, we have advanced our arguments on the following concerns: th: federal structure and devolution ont dus idlby Ngch-Feguldts Fe retaining Labour and the National Minimum Wage on the Exclusive Legislative List. Also, on che Core Labour issues are matters of Pension and Industrial Relations
“On the devolution of powers and socio-economic, cultural and political issues, we have also advanced our arguments on other matters of national importance. These issues include Local Government Autonomy, Legislative Autonomy, and judicial Autonomy, comprehensive judicial reform, electoral reform, gender equality, pusniic revenue allocation, strengthening independence of oversight institutions, residency and indigene provisions, the immunity clause and state creation” Onu Edoka submitted.
