Responding to minimum wage impasse, Mr Osita Okechukwu has appealed to Organised Labour to desist from the danger of throwing away our Baby-Democracy with Bathwater; as the indefinite strike could destabilize the economy, spiral into unintended consequences and harm our fledgling democracy.
Okechukwu agreed with Organised Labour that the labourer is entitled to living wage, especially in the midst of stagflation and declining living conditions.
He therefore advised labour to adopt house ownership for every worker as middle ground, to augment the N60,000 offered by government and the private sector.
He argued that rent is one of the items in Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which is tearing the hair of workers nationwide, as workers spend one third of their disposal income on shelter related matters.
Okechukwu added that house ownership gives workers inner peace of mind, improves living conditions and encourages productivity.
He accordingly called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as matter of urgent national importance, to retool his Renewed Hope housing program and embark on house ownership for all workers nationwide as alternative to unaffordable minimum wage.
Okechukwu said: “Mr President, house ownership for all workers is the doable middle ground in this impasse, as workers over the years have been contributing 2.5% of their salary to the National Housing Fund; all that is needed is Federal, State, LGA and private sector’s supplement.”
He maintained that the N497,000 is unaffordable, because more than ten states either could not or had blatantly refused to pay N30,000 till date.
“Whereas one agrees with the working people that there is economic hardship and declining standard of living; albeit ownership houses is the middle ground in this impasse and better than more liquid cash which could spiral hyperinflation out of hand and lead to mass retrenchment of workers”. Okechukwu retorted.
Okechukwu finally appealed to the organised labour to remember the blood and tears shed decades ago by our compatriots enroute our return to democracy; therefore we should not in vain throw the Baby-Democracy away with Bathwater.
