Minimum Wage : FG Proposes N24,000; States, N20,000; NLC, N30,000 — Ngige

The Federal Government, yesterday, proposed to pay N24,000 as new minimum wage, saying states agreed to pay N20,000, against the N30,000 demanded by Labour. 

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said N24,000 was what the Minimum Wage Negotiation Tripartite Committee agreed on and that government would not go beyond that.

In a joint statement by Ayuba Wabba, Bobboi Kaigama and Joe Ajaero, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and United Congress of Nigeria, ULC, respectively, organised Labour, condemned perceived manipulation and bending of facts in an attempt to delay or derail the processes needed to promulgate a new National Minimum Wage. 

The statement read:  “It is rather unfortunate and sad if, indeed, the minister made those statements. For the avoidance of doubt, organised Labour representatives wish to state unequivocally that the tripartite committee concluded its work, adopted a figure through a formal motion moved, seconded and adopted in the absence of any counter motion.

 “This was after a thorough debate of a report on a figure from the sub-committee, chaired by Senator Ngige himself, which presented four scenarios for consideration.

 ‘’The sub-committee worked on the basis of a figure proposed by the Federal Government, figures proposed by a number of state governments as well as proposals submitted by Organised Private Sector and Organised Labour. 

  “The committee formally adjourned its sitting with a decision that a date will be communicated to members for the signing of the report and submission of same to the President. “Organised Labour, therefore, frowns on the manipulation and bending of facts in an attempt to delay or derail the processes needed to promulgate a new National Minimum Wage. 

‘’We call on the government to take immediate necessary steps to ensure the enactment of a new National Minimum Wage as we cannot guarantee industrial peace and harmony.”

By Agnes