Minimum wage: FG inaugurates 20-man c’ttee to negotiate salary adjustment

Ukpono Ukpong, Abuja

The Federal Government has inaugurated a 20-man committee to negotiate the consequential adjustment in salaries arising from the new minimum wage.

The committee which was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, has four weeks to complete its task.

While inaugurating the committee on Tuesday, which will be chaired by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, the SGF said that the move was borne out of the current administration’s resolve to improve the welfare of workers.

“It is important to reiterate the President’s remarks at the signing of the new National Minimum Wage Act, 2019 that the signing of the Act would pave way for the constitution of another Committee to negotiate the issue of relativity/consequential adjustment arising from the new National Minimum Wage of N30,000.00 (Thirty Thousand Naira) only, with the relevant Labour Unions,” he added.

The head of service earlier in her remarks, recalled that the minimum wage was last reviewed in 2011, adding that the need for an upward review was long overdue.

While thanking Nigerian workers for their understanding and patience all through the negotiation period for a new minimum wage, she assured that the committee under her watch will do its best to deliver within the four-week time frame.

Members of the committee from the side of the government include Ministers of Labour & Employment; Minister of Finance; Minister of Budget & National Planning; Minister of Health; Minister of Education and; Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice.

Others are Director General, Budget Office of the Federation; Secretary, Federal Judicial Service Commission; Secretary, National Assembly Service Commission and; Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission.

On the side of the Trade Unions, 10 representatives were also nominated by the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council as members of the Committee.