President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that expeditious
action would be taken on the technical report on the New National Minimum Wage.
He made the pledge when the Bismarck Rewane-led Presidential Advisory Committee on New National Minimum Wage, inaugurated on January 9, submitted its report at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja, yesterday.
The meeting came one week after the Senate approved N30, 000 minimum wage for federal and state workers across the country.
“We will review this report expeditiously, as the process we may need to engage with some members of your committee. I therefore implore you to make your services available whenever we may call on you,” Buhari said.
The Ama Pepple-led national minimum sage committee had submitted its report last November.
The lawmakers gave the approval after the National Minimum Wage Bill was read and passed for the third time in the Senate.
Buhari commended members of the committee for their patriotism, hard work and sacrifices in ensuring they deliver the report before receipt of the minimum wage bill from the National Assembly.
Terms of reference of the committee included: develop and advise government on how to successfully bring about a smooth implementation of impending wage increases; identify new revenue sources, as well as areas of existing expenditure from where some savings could be made in order to fund the wage increases without adversely impacting the nation’s development goals as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan; propose a work plan and modalities for the implementation of the salary increases; and any other suggestions that will assist in the implementation of this, and future wage increases.
The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the Secretary to the government of the federal, Mr. Boss Mustapha, were among those present at the presentation of the report.
Also in attendance were the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, and that of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, as well as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, amongst others.
The organised labour, had in December 2018, rejected any attempt by the federal government to set up another committee on the national minimum wage, describing any such plan as diversionary and delay tactics.
President Buhari, had during the budget proposal presentation, promised a new minimum wage, which he said, will help maintain jobs for the teaming unemployed.
The Sun
