Minimum Wage: FG To Pay N30,000 As Council Of State Approves N27,000

The Federal Government has approved N27, 000 as Nigeria’s new national minimum wage.

The approval was made at the Council of State meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

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The development will see an increase in the country’s minimum wage from N18, 000 to N27, 000 after a Minimum Wage Bill must have been sent by the Presidency to the National Assembly and passed by both legislative chambers.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said the Federal Government has agreed to to pay N30, 000 as minimum wage to its workers whereas state governments and others are not to go below the approved N27, 000.

Ngige said, “The issue of national minimum wage as you are aware, we have had a series of consultations on the new national minimum wage starting from the inauguration of the tripartite committee in September, 2017 by Mr. President.

“This committee was to handle all the issues surrounding the new minimum wage. It made use of laws, constitution, conventions on minimum wage fixing and specialist bodies like the National Bureau of Statistics, NISER and all other bodies that have to do with economic research.

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“The Federal Executive Council received the report. After a tortuous debate, at that level, treated it. The National Economic Council comprising the governors and the vice-president chairing, looked at the report and finally today, the council of state. These three organs have permitted Mr. President now to transmit to the National Assembly the new National Minimum Wage Bill.

“Thus, in consonance with the fact that the issues of national minimum wage prescription is in the exclusive list, second schedule, item 34 and being on that list, it is not a job that can be done by the executive alone. The president has to transmit the bill to the National Assembly and the National Assembly will take legislative action and return the bill that has been so treated to the president for his assent.

“So, a bill will now be transmitted to the National Assembly that will amend the 1981 Act and 2011 Act. The highlight is what you want to know. The figure of N27,000 monthly has been approved for transmission to the NationalAssembly. The frequency of the review of the bill is five years, to get it in consonance with pension law of the federation as enshrined in the constitution.

“Exemptions to this bill will be establishments that are not employing people up to the number of 25. The various times prescribed have also been altered in the bill and will be sent to the National Assembly before the close of work tomorrow (today),” said the Minister.

THE WHISTLER recalls that the Tripartite Committee of the National Minimum Wage had recommended N30, 000 as the country’s minimum wage last year against the offer of N22, 500 made by state governors.

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