MINIMUM WAGE: FG moves to constitute new negotiation team

The Federal Government on Thursday said it would reconstitute a new committee to begin fresh negotiations for the full implementation of the new national minimum wage of N30,000.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, in Abuja.

According to him, “The President has put in place a new committee or council called ‘Presidential Committee On Salaries and Allowances”.

Senator Ngige made the revelation when the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) paid him a courtesy visit at his office in the nation’s capital.

He also claimed that the delay in agreement for the full implementation of the new minimum wage may put the Federal and State governments in a difficult position to pay because of the backlog that would arise.

Ngige also implored the workers earning above N30,000 and on grade level seven to 17 to be patient.

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He assured that the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage implementation was being sorted out.

Senator Ngige added, “It is important that we advise them (the stakeholders), because we are not yet back on that negotiation, that if they keep on piling debts, the Federal Government might run into problem of payment.

“The state governments that have not been regular with payments will have problems.”

Ngige also pledge to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the stalemated negotiation on the new wage, saying that the Federal Government was committed to the full implementation of the minimum wage.

Among those in attendance at the meeting were; the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, and the NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba among others.

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