By Amos Tauna
In solidarity with the plight of Nigerian workers, Senator Shehu Sani, lamented that the workers earned below their input in view of the socio-economic and political stability of Nigeria.
The Senator made this assertion during the 2017 Worker’s Day Celebration at the Nigerian Union Teachers, NUT Secretariat in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria on Monday, said that Worker’s Day Celebration was a day set aside to appreciate the contribution of the workforce to the social and economic development of the entire world.
“On this day, we assembled and gathered to reaffirm our commitment to the struggle for the betterment of our country, the struggle for all Nigerian workers, irrespective of where they are.
“The working class don’t just represent workers, but they represent the downtrodden, the weak, the oppressed, the maginalised and the voiceless.
“The working class has always championed the struggle for freedom, liberty of thier members globally. They have always become a strong tool for socio-economic and political change.
“Nigerian workers are always at the forefront for the struggle of democracy, they are always in the front role agitating for good governance but have not been appreciated by the politicial ruling class. The worker suffered to build this country, to strengthen the economy of Nigeria, but there is no commiserate renumeration for them.
“N18,000, minimum wage is an insult , there is no security man in the house of a politician that earn below N18, 000 . There is no dog in the house of a politician that is fed with N18,000 in a month.
“I think it is high time the Nigerian workers should base their minimum wage in dollar terms, stop saying N56 , 000 naira minimum wage, say $3, 000 dollars minimum wage . $300 dollar minimum wage is over one hundred and forty thousand naira.
“It is unfair for a nation that can afford to sustain a political class from the councillors, Local government chairmen, State governors , State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senators to the Presidency, but can not afford to pay workers as at when due.
“I believe this is the time to tell ourselves the truth, despite the million of dollars made by this country everyday. It is shame on us that we can not take care of our workers.
“I have said it continuously and consistently that there is no elected official that is not well paid. There is non. Member of the state and National Assembly are adequately paid. Some payment are disclosed and some are not buy the workers have no problem in disclosing their pay slip, but the politicians have problem in doing so.
“But I believe on a day like this, is a day to confirm to ourselves that the only way for Nigerian workers is that the struggle continues . We must revoke our laws to give respect and dignity to our workers.
“It is wrong, so many things are wrong with our country. Our country is sick. The amount of money spent to sustain public officials is too much. We don’t need 36 States, 36 Ministers, we don’t need 109 Senator, we don’t need over 360 House of Representatives , we don’t need all those things here.
“There is the need to cut cost, and use the remaining of the money to pay workers. This is what is necessary, the amount of money politicians spend during election is ten times higher than the money that is used to pay the whole of Nigerians workers.
Senator Shehu Sani commended the level of courage been established by the Labour leader in Kaduna State, adding that they should remain firm, resolute and dedicated to always defend the interest of the workers.
Speaking further he says: “We are from the APC, the P there is for progressives, any person that call himself a prograsive and who is opposed to the workers, and is opposed to the increase of minimum wage is not a genuine progressive.”
He called on the Labour leaders to resist all intimidations and any form of harassment.
“Government comes and go, but Nigerian workers will still remain there. It is time for you workers to start seeking political offices, you must move beyond the box of labours activities. We need politicians that are grounded with ideology, ideal and ideas.
”We need a political party that is based on defending the interest of people. Anyone who knows me here can tell you that am not a politician, am an activitist.”
