The federal government has in response to repeated calls by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), organised labour unions and other concerned Nigerians over the rising state of insecurity in the country, embarked on the restructuring of the nation’s security architecture.
This was disclosed Tuesday by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on the occasion of the 2018 National May Day Celebration at Eagle Square, Abuja organised by the two main Federations of Trade Unions — Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recruitment of 6,000 additional policemen as part of fresh measures to address the nation’s security challenges including the farmers/herdsmen clashes across the country.
The president made this known in a special interview session with Voice of America, Hausa service, in Washington, United States on Tuesday morning.
Osinbajo, who represented Mr Buhari, said that this was aimed at tackling the deaths and destruction being visited on Nigerians across the country by killer herdsmen and other criminal elements.
He, however, called for collective efforts and sense of unity anchored on citizens’ support for government towards sustainable peace and security in Nigeria.
He said: “You are all quite aware that insecurity has remained a big challenge for us all. We are determined to face this challenge and secure the country more than ever before. To this end, Mr President and the security council have been engaging in rigorous stock taking with a view to restructuring our security architecture to meet the challenges of the mindless killings in some parts of the country including marauding herdsmen, cattle rustlers and bandits.
“It is our duty to secure the rights of farmers, and all citizens and to ensure that herders also can rear cattle in well-resourced ranches. But there are also criminals who want to stoke religious and ethnic crisis. What is the explanation for anyone to go into a church to kill priests and worshippers? We recognise that while the protection of lives and property is a primary responsibility of government; it is also incumbent on the citizens to share in this responsibility, as security is a collective responsibility.
“Our country is great because of the talents of our people, from every tribe, tongue, and religion. Our diversities are our strength. We must reject every attempt to divide us, our focus must be on developing our economy, providing opportunities in industry, manufacturing, technology for our young people. To borrow from Dike Chukwumerije a young Nigerian poet…we must build bridges, not walls.”
On the welfare of workers, Osinbajo noted that while the government recognised that payment of salaries and pensions is essential; they are also conscious of the fact that the increasing cost of living and the recognition to ensure a fair and decent living wage has rendered the Minimum Wage Instrument obsolete.
Accordingly, he said, Buhari inaugurated, on November 27, 2017, a Tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee to renegotiate the National Minimum Wage for our workers.
The vice-president reminded Nigerians that the subject of a National Minimum Wage for the Federation is within the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
He continued: “Although there are arguments regarding fixing minimum wage in a federation such as ours, it is the responsibility of government to establish the necessary social protection floor for all Nigerian workers based on the ability of each tier of government to pay.
“The argument for a national minimum wage, therefore, cannot be faulted because minimum wage is the minimum amount of compensation an employee must receive for putting in his or her labour and as such should be anchored on the principles of social justice, equity, and fairness. We believe that those who can pay above the social protection floor are free to do so, as many have been doing in many states and sectors of the economy.”
Speaking further, Osinbajo assured Nigerians that Buhari’s administration has no intention of presiding over the dismantling of the gains organised labour secured for its members almost four decades ago.
He, however, expressed hope “that the Tripartite Committee comprising government, labour, and the private sector will expedite its assignment to enable the federal government to present an Executive Bill on a new National Minimum Wage to the National Assembly for passage into law, as soon as possible. In the meantime, the federal government and state governments will continue to work together to improve the conditions of workers across the country”.
Also speaking, President of NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, while speaking on the theme for this year’s May Day Celebration – “Role of the Labour Movement in National Development: Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win”, also agreed with the vice-president on the need to tackle the crippling state of insecurity and also speed up the harmonisation of the new minimum wage.
On the national security threats, Wabba lamented that the nation is immersed in a renewed outbreak of blood-letting and violence, adding that “the initial successes recorded against the Boko Haram insurgency, which earned this government international accolades and respect, have come under serious challenge”.
He feared that with the military overstretched in addition to mounting and mutating security challenges, the country may be on the verge of collapse.
He said: “The North-east region has witnessed renewed cases of Boko Haram attacks. The abduction of Dapchi girls, more or less, a replay of the Chibok tragedy reinforces the view of how badly things have deteriorated. We urge the federal government to intensify efforts to ensure the successful release of the remaining Dapchi girl being held reportedly on the account of her faith, and indeed, all the Chibok girls yet to be released.
“Also worrisome is the escalating phenomenon of ‘killer herdsmen’, pastoralists-farmers clashes, cattle rustling and all sorts of extrajudicial killings. The frequency, repulsive nature and national spread of these orgies of bloodletting present themselves as the greatest threat to our well-being and unity as a people and as a nation. With the military deployed in 27 of our states, it is very clear that the country is drifting to a precipice.”
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