Editorial
Minimum Wage: Averting Nationwide Strike
Shortly after last week’s National Administrative Council (NAC), meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC’s president gave President Goodluck Jonathan a seven-day ultimatum to sign the new National Minimum Wage Bill into law or have the April general elections disrupted.
Comrade Omar said the congress was aware that Federal Government was playing politics with the minimum wage issue, after all the assurances by the president that the bill will be assented to once the National Assembly passes it.
The NLC’s boss further stated that after a struggle which commenced in 2008 to pave way for a new salary regime, some highly-placed individuals in the corridors of power, were still playing games with workers’ welfare.
He warned that NLC will stop at nothing in ensuring that the April general elections, which is barely a week already, will be disrupted by Nigerian workers, if the bill is not signed into law before the elections commence.
Such warning, coming at this critical time from no less a person than Nigeria’s Number One Labour Leader, should not be dismissed as a mere threat but must be taken seriously, especially against the backdrop that the bulk of the workers, who constitute the electoral personnel (both adhoc and permanent) will be involved in the elections.
Moreso, the Federal Government, having invested so much funds running into billions of tax-payers money, should not give room for disruption of the elections by anybody or group.
Against this backdrop, therefore, The Tide urges the federal authorities to move fast and dialogue with the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC), if there are still some impediments militating against the signing of the new wage bill into law.
We say this because we believe that misinformation may have informed NLC’s current threat for a show down, and only dialogue, openness and transparency on the issue will resolve the matter before the deadline expires.
NLC’s position may have been informed by feelers coming from the National Assembly and the Presidency on the true position of the bill.
The conflicting statements emanating from the executive arm of government over the whereabouts of the bill had further fuelled agitations by workers who now feel that government was unserious over the bill.
President Jonathan should, therefore, call the NLC for a round-table discussion so as to clear the air on the true position of the bill. The earlier this is done, the better for us all.
On the other hand, the president should go ahead and append his presidential seal, if there are no other legal or extra-legal impediments which could undermine his assent.
This is an election period and all hands must be on deck to ensure smooth, successful and credible elections which this administration has consistently craved for.
The labour, under the auspices of NLC and TUC, constitutes a veritable tool needed for national elections.Government should, therefore, explore ways which Nigerian workers could work towards achieving set objectives rather than give room for some sections by the Nigerian society to subvert the election process.
As a listening president and father to all Nigerians, The Tide strongly believes that the president will resolve the matter before the deadline expires.
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Addressing Unruly Behaviours At The Airports

It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.
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