New Minimum Wage To Be Implemented Third Quarter – Ngige

The Federal Government announced on Monday that the implementation of the new national minimum wage would commence in the third quarter of 2018.

Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, made the announcement at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Abuja.

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The minister said the negotiation committee for the new minimum wage had received memoranda from all stakeholders involved in the process.

“Well, we all know the economic situation of the country as of today. The negotiation committee has members from all the tripartite bodies, which means the government cannot force its way.

“The committee has received memoranda from all the critical stakeholders and should begin the implementation of a new minimum wage in the third quarter of this year,” he said.

The NLC had advocated for improved working conditions and remuneration that is commensurate to their contribution to nation building.

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They had made a proposal for N56,000 for the least paid worker in the country.

Following sustained pressure, President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2017, inaugurated a 30-member tripartite committee headed by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Ms. Ama Pepple.

The committee was saddled with the responsibility of considering the issue of a national minimum wage and all matters ancillary to it with thoroughness and concern not only for the welfare of Nigerian work-force but the effect on the country’s economy.

Early this month, the Federal Government had said it would prepare a supplementary budget to take care of workers’ demand for increase in salaries when the new minimum wage proposal was eventually approved.

In his address, the President, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, warned those working against the realisation of the new minimum wage within the government that labour would resist their antics.

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On his part, the President, Trade Union Congress, Bobboi Kaigama, charged labour activists to develop more than an interest in politics, stressing that it was only when labour wrestle power from career politicians that it would be empowered to better the lots of the working masses.

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