As workers across the country gear up for the May Day celebration, labour leaders say the workers will once again use the opportunity to demand an increase in minimum wage and payment of salary arrears, among others.

According to the secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Peter Ozo-Eson and the leader of the United Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, an N18,000 minimum wage means many Nigerians are not able to put food the table.

“If we are receiving N18,000 as minimum wage in an economy where the dollar is exchanging at par with the naira, I bet you nobody will even come out and say his is asking for an increase in minimum wage,” Ajaero said.

“But we are receiving N18,000 at a time that you can’t pay house rent, in fact, electricity bill is more than N18,000.”

He argued that the poor wage being paid to workers was part of the reasons why the country is in a recession.

“Because if you don’t pay good wage, you can’t revive the economy,” he added.

Ozo-Eson said the workers will also use the May Day celebrations to protest against state governors owing months of salaries and pensions.

He said, “There are a number of issues on the table and we do understand that workers will use this opportunity to also ventilate their views on those issues.

“Among them are of course the issues of salary arrears and pensions. And workers clearly will come to demonstrate against those governors who have not managed their affairs properly and are owing several months of salaries and pensions.” (Channels TV)