Labour eagerly awaits FG’s implementation of new minimum wage

Memoye Oghu, Port Harcourt

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairperson in Rivers state, Comrade Beatrice Itubo has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the new minimum wage law and expressed optimism that labour eagerly awaits its immediate implementation.

Comrade Itubo, who expressed the commendation and optimism in an exclusive chat with the Daily Times in her office in Port Harcourt on Thursday, said she was optimistic that its implementation will commence from May this year.

“Although, the federal government promised to implement the new minimum wage in September last year, it later shifted the date to February this year.

But, that was when the bill was still in the National Assembly. Now that it has become an Act of parliament, its implementation is obvious and the President may as well surprise workers and Nigerians with a beautiful implementation date as a celebration gift to workers on May day.

“With the assent, the President has shown that he’s a labour friendly President and a favourable implementation date would be a beautiful gift to Nigerian workers on May day when they gather to celebrate the international workers day.

“The President would engrave his name in the hearts of workers if the implementation of the new minimum wage is backdated to February as earlier promised.

The implementation should start first because in labour circles, it is the struggle continues,” the labour leader said.

Although, she expressed the hope that in Rivers state, labour friendly Gov. Nyesom Wike has promised to pay the new minimum wage as soon as the federal government gives the go ahead, she advised other state governors across the country not to be clogs in the implementation of the new wage in order not to continue the impoverishment of workers.

Comrade Itubo also took a swipe at the rumoured planned increase in Value Added Tax (VAT), saying that it would amount to giving with one hand and taking back with both hands.

“Although, the federal government has debunked the rumours of any planned increment in VAT, if done it would rubbish the new minimum wage and return Nigerian workers back to square one,” she stated.

The number one labour leader in the state reeled out her achievements in the last three years to include, the soon to be commissioned Labour House in the state capital by Gov. Wike as well as the restoration of peace and sanity in labour circles in the state.

Apart from the challenges of pensioners in the state which, she said the state government was doing its best to address, her first tenure also witnessed a boom in staff welfare as many civil servants would soon be promoted.

“Civil servants in the state are currently completing their APER forms for their promotions which will soon be released,” she revealed.