FG fixes new date for minimum wage review

The Federal Government on Friday announced a new date (March 14) has been scheduled for the meeting of the technical committee on minimum wage at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) to deliberate on the proposed N56,000 minimum wage for workers in the country.

The FG also refuted the Nigeria Labour Congress’ (NLC) accusation of foot-dragging to constitute a tripartite committee stressing that the new date had been communicated to both the government and worker’s representatives of the technical committee.
Sen Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment said this in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director of Press in the ministry.

Ngige said his attention had been drawn to publications in some section of the media, accusing the Federal Government of intentionally stalling the process of constituting a tripartite committee for the minimum wage.

“The above statement is false and misleading as the Federal Government has demonstrated its commitment to improving the welfare of the Nigerian workforce by holding series of meetings with stakeholders on the subject matter.

“The final meeting of the technical committee on new minimum wage was slated for 23rd February 2017 but could not hold as scheduled.
“The Nigerian Labour Congress and its Trade Union Congress counterpart requested for a postponement of the meeting.

“This was in order to attend the delegate conference of National Union of Civil Engineering Construction/ Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), at Asaba Delta State, ‘’he said.
Ngige, therefore, said the allegation as ascribed to the NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, was ”mischievous and unfounded”.

“The NLC President is fully aware of the rescheduled meeting and the reason for the postponement of the earlier meeting which was at the instance of labour unions,” he added.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has lamented over the frustrations of Nigerian workers over of federal government’s delay tactics over the issue of new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, saying cannot wait indefinitely for the government to respond at its own time.
Speaking at the 4th NLC National Gender Conference in Abuja, the National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said that despite the fact that the minimum wage was due for renegotiation after 5 years, the Buhari administration was dragging its feet in constituting a tripartite committee as is the practice to negotiate a new minimum wage.
“Nigerian workers were getting tired of government’s delay tactics in constituting a tripartite committee to negotiate a new minimum wage for the country and ask the government to act immediately.”

“It is no longer news that our Country is in a severe recession, and prices of virtually all consumable and non-consumable items have skyrocketed. In the last twelve or more months, the inflationary trend in the economy has gone over the roof, and the mass of our people, the salaried and the teeming millions of the unemployed, are facing ver