by By Favour Izukah
The Cross River Labour Chapter has embarked on a protest against a bill tagged by them as “Anti-labour” bill, which was proposed by Honourable Member Garba Datti Mohammed representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.
The protest which was held at the Cross River State House of Assembly Complex was to move against the bill which has passed the first and second reading seeking the transfer of minimum wage from Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.
According to the organized labour,
passing such bill to law implies that the effort of the work force in the country to free itself from unfavourable conditions is a waste. Moreso, the bill only places them at the mercy of the state.
However, the protest was made at the State’s house of Assembly to call on the Speaker, Rt. Honourable Etanj Jona William, to rule against the bill when it comes to the Assembly for confirmation.
The protest was also used to table Local issues affecting workers in the state which includes; Release of gratuities to retirees, promotion implementation, release of the deduction made on Worker’s Salaries amongst others.
Reacting to the protest, the Speaker of
the Cross River State House of Assembly assured that the Honourable Members are in support of the workers and if they tag the bill as Anti-Labour, so it is.
” We are in total solidarity with you as an Assembly. We stand by you and we will walk with you. If we need to go up with you we will and if we need to go down with you we will.
“I am assuring you one thing, if the bill comes to us for a concurrent confirmation, we will reject it.
” We work for the people and we are elected for the people. If you say the bill is wrong, I don’t think we have any right to continue.
” You have told us the bill is Anti-people. We will maintain it. Cross River state of Assembly says no to it.
“I will take the copy of the material presented to me to the conference of speakers. We will deliberate on it and that decision must be favourable for you.
On the part of the local issues affecting the workers in the State tabled before the Speaker, he said that the issues have been raised on several occasions but he will work at addressing them soonest.
“On the issue that concerns the state, on more than three occasion we have taken up the matter and we will continue to take the matter up. I will meet with the new Head of Service and this will be part of the
issue I will be discussing with her, which I will then take up to His excellency for final approval”.
