Ajaero reiterated the importance of young people in the trade union movement, announcing plans to establish youth executive councils in every state to address youth-specific issues and ensure their active participation.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, has decried the challenges of compelling state governors to implement the N70,000 minimum wage amidst worsening economic conditions.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 2024 delegates’ conference of the NLC Youth Council in Abuja, Ajaero highlighted the dire realities faced by Nigerians.
“Comrades, let us speak plainly. The harsh realities of our country cannot be sugar-coated.
"We live in a nation where the rich grow fatter on the sweat of the poor, where our youth struggle to find meaningful work, and where the value of labour is often trampled underfoot.
“A bag of 50kg rice sells for N105,000, transport from Abuja to Port Harcourt is above N50,000, decent housing has become a mirage, while basic healthcare is out of reach.
"Basic social services are becoming elusive even as we have to struggle to get some governors to pay us a paltry N70,000 National Minimum Wage — the product of a law passed by the state.”
He urged Nigerians not to dwell on the challenges but to rise with determination, emphasising, “No one will build our nation for us.”
Ajaero reiterated the importance of young people in the trade union movement, announcing plans to establish youth executive councils in every state to address youth-specific issues and ensure their active participation.
The conference, themed “Youth and the New World of Work: Imperative of a New Social Contract,” aimed to inspire youths to redefine fairness and justice in an evolving work environment.
Ajaero concluded by urging youths to remain united and focused, pledging the NLC’s unwavering support to guide and stand by them.
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