Lagos NUJ lauds House on erring employers’ bill

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, has lauded the House of Representatives for initiating the bill to criminalize late and non-payment of staff salaries by employers of labour in the country.
House of Representatives had in the bill, which has presently passed the second reading, proposed that employers, who fail to pay staff salaries as at when due, must be made to face the wrath of law, just as underpayment of wages, pension as well as other emoluments would attract sanctions.
The penalties, as stipulated in the bill, would, among other things, include loss of 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the value of the delayed salary by the company.
The Lagos NUJ gave the commendation on the heels of reported cases of non-payment of staff salaries by many companies, especially some media houses in the country.
In a communiqué issued by the Chairman of the Council, Comrade Deji Gbolahan-Elumoye, and the Secretary, Sylva Emeka-Okereke, after the March 2013 Congress of Lagos NUJ held in Ikeja, Lagos, the Council urged the House of Representatives to ensure that the bill is not truncated by those at the corridors of power.
While commending the House of Representatives for such a welfare-oriented bill, the Council also urged the Senate to follow suit by initiating the same bill, noting that the bill will not only ameliorate the sufferings of many Nigerians as a result of non-payment of staff salaries, but also reduce the high rate of corruption in the country.
Describing non-payment of salaries as wicked and ungodly, the Council wondered why some employers of labour would owe as much as 12 months salaries, maintaining that those companies are not worth to be in existence.
Supporting the proposed stiff penalties for employers of labour in both public and private sectors, who fail to pay or delay the payment of workers’ salaries, the Council said some people are forced to seek unlawful means to meet their financial obligations, which in turn increases corruption while exposing workers to unnecessary dangers.
The communique added: “A labourer deserves his wages.
“The holy Books – Bible and Koran – averred this, but we have discovered that many of these employers of labour are both Christians and Muslims.
“It is very unjust for employers to owe staff, several months of salaries.
“It is wicked.
“It is callous and it is unacceptable to Nigerians and by extension, the NUJ.
“We must join hands with the National Assembly to see how to actualize this bill and to guide it jealously, so that the powers that be will not thwart the good intention of the House of Representatives.”