Government to inaugurate committee to discuss N56,000 minimum wage

-President Buhari approves membership of committee to negotiate new minimum wage.

-The committee would be inaugurated once labour leaders return from their meeting in Geneva.

Committee to discuss new minimum wage in Nigeria soon to start work as Buhari approves membership of the committee.

The committee to discuss and negotiate new minimum wage for workers in Nigeria will soon be inaugurated according to the minister for labour, Sen. Chris Ngige.

The minister stated President Muhammadu Buhari has granted approval for the membership of the proposed national minimum wage committee.

Briefing newsmen on Thursday after meeting with the President, Ngige stated that part of the terms of reference for the committee will be to discuss the feasibility of the N56,000 new national minimum wage being demanded by workers.

“When we came to power in 2015, there was a minimum wage, and by May 2016, we now had a deregulation in the petroleum industry and prices of petroleum products went up and we started discussions with organised labour,” Ngige said.

“One of the agreements was that the issue would be addressed. The old law expired last year August and we are now in the process of empanelling a new national minimum wage committee.

“I have cleared the appointments with the president today and as soon as the labour people come back from the Labour Governing Board meeting in Geneva, we will take a consensus date with the governors because it is a tripartite committee involving federal and states, the private sector — the National Employment Consultative Agency (NECA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“These are the arms that will be involved. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), their affiliates have done their nominations. What we are now trying to fine-tune is the date for inauguration.”

The minister also stated the Buhari led administration has created several jobs as promised but many have failed to see it as their focus is somewhere else.

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“We promised jobs but what has happened is that people tried to quantify jobs in terms of white collar jobs for graduates from universities, polytechnics but they don’t want to look at the blue collar jobs,” he added.

“Agriculture and agric chains alone have created more than 5-7 Million jobs. Talk in terms of rice. From rice tilling, harvesting, mills, and even where people are making the jute bags, transportation, people are getting jobs. So, that value chain alone from agric is enormous.

“Take the N-Power, we have created millions of jobs from here. Skill acquisition from the NDE and other agencies of government, jobs are being created. We give them tools as plumbers, electricians, cosmetologists, shoe makers, tilers and several other areas. We have created several jobs.”