The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Cross River State, has called on the federal government to increase minimum wage for workers.
The congress urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to implement the N30,000 minimum wage as discussed during its negotiations with the Minister of Labour, Sen Chris Ngige.
Scores of workers had gathered at the Zoo Garden Park in Calabar threatening they would embark on strike over the minimum wage.
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Secretary of the state chapter of NLC, Comrade Ita Ayi, who briefed participants said: “We are workers and have had prolonged negotiation with the government for an increase in our salaries. N30,000 was arrived at, surprisingly, the Minister of Labour, Sen Chris Ngige after we had agreed asked for another round of negotiation and we are saying no to that kind of action.
“We are asking for an increase in our salaries because we are tired of buying garri on credit, salt on credit, maggi on credit and even the houses we cannot pay our rents.
“We are not going to vote next year for these people who are insensitive to the plight of workers because they spend billions of naira on themselves and their families. But they tell us there is no money.’’