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Tag: minimum wage

  • Labour insists on N30,000 new minimum wage

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said there is no going back on the N30,000 minimum wage.

    The union also dismissed at the weekend insinuations that that there was controversy surrounding the N30,000 new national minimum wage proposal contained in the report of the tripartite committee set up by the Federal Government.

    Its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, said the recommendations of the tripartite committee will be sent to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and onward transmission to the National Assembly for passage into law first, before the president can now assent to it.

    According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari need not pronounce any figure for the new national minimum wage otherwise he would have passed judgment on it, noting that there was no controversy over the N30,000 figure.

    He said:  “Every member of the committee signed the report. Our recommendation is N30,000 and I think it is not hidden. It has been made public today and that is the recommendation the committee has made to the President.

    “When N18,000 was actually implemented in 2011, most of the states emptied their treasuries towards 2015 and, therefore, had difficulty. If there is the will, we are certain that there will be a way out.

    “All of us know that a number of factors have affected the purchasing power of Nigerian workers. The value of N18,000 then was almost N140 to the US dollar. So, the economic factor is very germane.”

    Recently, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, while speaking with State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, said Buhari would still study the report presented to him by the chairman of the committee, Ama Pepple, before taking a decision on it.

    Pepple, while presenting the report last week, said the committee recommended that the national minimum wage be increased from N18,000 monthly to N30,000.

    Mohammed however, said Buhari would only take a decision and make his views known after considering the report.

    “I think it (N30,000) was a recommendation. Mr. President will consider it and will make his views known in due course,” Mohammed said.

    Following Mohammed’s statement that the tripartite committee’s report was only a recommendation, Nigerians, have called on the president to keep faith with the agreement freely reached with labour and affirm the new minimum wage.

    Meanwhile, the Presidency has reacted to speculation that President Buhari may have reneged on his initial acceptance of the N30, 000 recommended as the new national minimum wage for workers in the country.

    The Presidency did so in a statement endorsed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja.

  • Minimum wage, maximum fuss

    NO idiom quite captures the complexity and multifaceted nature of an agreement as the reason Nigeria’s organised labour gave for shelving its proposed strike last week. Organised labour had resolved some two weeks ago to go on strike by November 6, 2018 if the federal and state governments did not take concrete steps to agree and implement a new minimum wage of N30,000. But in a flurry of activities and negotiations, the federal government catalysed the tripartite plus committee, which had been negotiating for about a year, to reach a deal and make recommendations to the government. On November 5, 2018, the Amal Pepple-led committee eked out an ambiguous deal and passed it on to the president the following day.

    Depending on who was asked to expatiate on the deal — whether representatives of the federal government, or Ms Pepple, or representatives of organised labour — it was reported that the committee had recommended N30,000, the figure suggested by the labour unions, or something else suggested by representatives of government. Labour minister, Chris Ngige, however, agreed that while N30,000 was actually indicated in the agreement, complete with a draft executive bill to be forwarded to the National Assembly for legislative action, the deal also indicated N24,000, the figure embraced by the federal government. And so while Ms Pepple appeared to believe that the real agreement was for N30,000, Dr Ngige believed that the inclusion of a lower figure enabled the government he serves to avoid being straitjacketed or railroaded.

    However, before the ambiguity assumed poignancy, President Muhammadu Buhari had last Tuesday, while receiving the report, waffled gloriously about the unions’ patriotic decision not to plunge the nation into a crisis, and commended both the committee and patient workers. He then swore his commitment to a new minimum wage and gave a pledge to forward an executive bill on the agreement reached by the nearly one-year old committee. He was smart enough not to indicate explicitly what figure of minimum wage he was going to recommend. But on Wednesday, the media were so thoroughly flummoxed by the president’s waffle that they headlined their stories on the subject as presidential assent. It took the Information minister, Lai Mohamed, only one day to put the lie to the popular misconception. Neither the president nor the government had agreed a definite figure, he wailed.

    Appalled that it seemed to have been suckered, and warning the government not to play any hanky-panky with the agreement reached, organised labour disclosed to the media that as far as they were concerned an agreement to pay N30,000 had been reached and any indication to the contrary would be catastrophic for labour peace. But the unions also knew that the process of legitimising and legislating the deal is a bit long and tortuous. Indeed, as explained by the Labour minister last week, the final proposal would weave its serpentine way through the Federal Executive Council, National Council of State, before being transmitted to the parliament. There are no guarantees what would happen at any of the stages. And except the unions can somehow find a way to expedite the process, each of the stages, particularly the legislative stage, can really be time-consuming.

    It is suspected that after a lot of rigmarole, the federal government might actually raise the figure a little to about N26,000 or N27,000. No one, except the unions, sees the government at the federal and state levels paying N30,000. Certainly the states will decline to pay, regardless of the threats to vote out dissenting governors. It will be left to the unions to go on strike again should the government offer N26,000 or N27,000. But the dilemma faced by the unions will in no way match the quandary faced by the government in making a final proposal. The organised labour strategically chose an election year to squeeze a deal through the palms of the government; the government will in turn be wary of proposing a final deal that will see labour returning to the barricades weeks to the elections. One way or the other something will have to give, perhaps, as some analysts say, with the government agreeing a deal they know no state can hope to pay.

  • Ignore N30,000 minimum wage, forget second term –Ohanaeze youths tell S’East govs

    SOUTHEast governors seeking second term in office have been advised against toying  with the demand for  N30, 000 as minimum wage by labour unions. The President of Ohaneze-Ndigbo  Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro gave the  advice yesterday in a telephone chat with The Nation. Alarmed by reports that

    some of the governors said they would not be able to pay the sum, Isiguzoro said any governor, especially those seeking second term who is averse to paying the amount should forget his ambition, adding that the OYC would mobilise the  labour unions  to press for the payment of the sum in the zone.

    “It is worrisome that some governors are already saying that they can’t pay N30, 000 a month as minimum wage. How much is the money that the governors cannot pay? Any governor who cannot pay the sum should forget second term. We would mobilise workers and labour unions  against such governors because the workers’ welfare has

    been taken for granted  for long. A labourer deserves not just a wage but a deserving one.  We learnt that Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ipkeazu has agreed to pay the said sum. That is a cheering news if he eventually does that. We want to use this opportunity to tell other governors from the zone to do the same to improve the living standard of the workers.”

  • 2019 poll: Buhari vows harsh verdict for Atiku

    THE proposed N30,000 minimum wage seems to have become a campaign issue ahead of next year’s election.

    To the Presidency, the controversy over President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on what the least paid worker should earn  is “concocted”.

    It accused yesterday some political actors, including the Atiku Media Office, of trying to score cheap political goals, warning that “stiff judgment awaits them at the polls”.

    Presidential spokesman  Femi Adesina was reacting to comments by the Atiku Media Office, which said “President Buhari cannot be trusted to implement the ‘new’ minimum wage of N30, 000’’ recommended by the Pepple tripartite committee”.

    Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said: “Buhari may not have the political will to implement the new wage’’.

    Adesina said: “Those who have latched onto the concocted controversy to play cheap politics, we appeal to them to remember that elections are not won through loquaciousness, and trying to demean the President at every drop of a hat.

    “But then, it is not surprising, as they have nothing else to sell to Nigerians, if they don’t ride on the name of the President. Stiff judgment awaits them at the polls.’’

    The presidential aide frowned at the recurring reports alleging that Buhari had reneged on an earlier acceptance of the N30,000 recommended as the new National Minimum Wage by the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee.

    He noted that these reports were contrary to what transpired on Tuesday when the committee presented its report to the President.

    Adesina said the President, while acknowledging the concerns raised by government on affordability and labour’s focus on meaningful increase, stated clearly in a speech, which was made available to the media, that:

    “In a way, both arguments are valid. I want to assure you all that we will immediately put in place the necessary machinery that will close out these open areas.

    “Our plan is to transmit an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for passage within the shortest possible time. I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.

    “As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report. I, therefore, would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.”

    Adesina observed: “From the above, and throughout the report-submission ceremony, the President never mentioned any figure. What he committed himself to was a new minimum wage, and only after the Report of the committee has been reviewed by the executive and legislative processes of government and an appropriate bill presented to him for assent.

    Read also: ‘Governors frustrating minimum wage’

    “Until the proposed minimum wage has gone through the whole gamut of law-making, President Buhari, who is a stickler for due process, will not be caught in this unnecessary web of controversy, which amounts to putting the cart before the horse and hair-splitting.’’

    But an Atiku group insisted yesterday that an Atiku Abubakat presidency would usher in a new beginning for growth.

    The New Nation with Atiku (NNB) noted that under the present circumstance, the former Vice President stood out as the best chance to take the country to the Promise Land.

    Briefing reporters yesterday in Abuja, the group’s Director General, Adesina Abolade and National Coordinator, Blessing Braide, said they were prepared to canvass for votes for Atiku once the ban on political campaign is lifted.

    Braide criticised the economy, saying that is where Atiku comes in.

    “He is coming to write his name in gold and to touch lives. What he and his predecessor Olusegun Obasanjo were not able to do, he has seen all the lapses and he is the only person among those contesting that has a blueprint and fully ready.

    “So we have to rally round to support him as he has what it takes. We are ready to mobilise the youth and the old in all parts of the country to vote for the man that is fit for the job,” he said.

    He also stressed that the group is not a apolitical and does not belong to any political party, “But we are close to what is happening  and that is why we have come together to say that we will support the vision of Atiku …”

    “ If Atiku is looking for power and somebody who is not looking for power might not know how to mange power if you give him power. But this man says that I know how to do it. He has establishment in this country that has employed our youth and if all the wealthy men have done the same, lots of our children would have been employed.”

    Also yesterday, a firm owned by Atiku  said it had approved N33,000 as minimum wage for its employees.

    Managing Director of Yola –based Gotel Communications, Mohammed El-Yakub, in a statement said:  “The N33,000 new salary scale, which takes effect from November 2018, includes domestic servant and all categories of workers on the former vice-president’s payroll,” El-Yakub said.

  • Minimum Wage Saga: Stiff judgment awaits you at polls, Presidency tells Atiku group

    The Presidency has criticised the concocted controversy over President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on proposed N30,000 by some political actors to score cheap political goals, saying “stiff judgment awaits them at the polls’’.

    Mr Femi Adesina, made the condemnation in a statement in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to comments apparently made by the Atiku media office.

    In a statement issued by his media office, Atiku had allegedly claimed that “President Buhari cannot be trusted to implement the ‘new’ minimum wage of N30, 000’’ recommended by the Pepple tripartite committee.

    Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said “Buhari may not have the political will to implement the new wage’’.

    However, Adesina said: “Those who have latched onto the concocted controversy to play cheap politics, we appeal to them to remember that elections are not won through loquaciousness, and trying to demean the President at every drop of a hat.

    “But then, it is not surprising, as they have nothing else to sell to Nigerians, if they don’t ride on the name of the President. Stiff judgment awaits them at the polls.’’

    The presidential aide therefore frowned at the recurring reports alleging that Buhari had reneged on earlier acceptance of the N30,000 recommended as the new National Minimum Wage by the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee.

    Read Also: Salvador urges APC’s unity ahead of 2019

    He noted that these reports were contrary to what transpired on Tuesday when the committee presented its Report to the President.

    He said the president, while acknowledging the concerns raised by government on affordability and labour’s focus on meaningful increase, stated clearly in a speech, which was made available to the media that:

    “In a way, both arguments are valid. I want to assure you all that we will immediately put in place the necessary machinery that will close out these open areas.

    “Our plan is to transmit an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for passage within the shortest possible time. I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.

    “As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report. I, therefore, would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.”

    Adesina observed that: “From the above, and throughout the report-submission ceremony, the President never mentioned any figure. What he committed himself to was a new minimum wage, and only after the Report of the committee has been reviewed by the executive and legislative processes of government and an appropriate bill presented to him for assent.

    “Until the proposed minimum wage has gone through the whole gamut of law-making, President Buhari, who is a stickler for due process, will not be caught in this unnecessary web of controversy, which amounts to putting the cart before the horse and hair-splitting’’.

  • 95 per cent of States can’t pay N30, 000 minimum wage – Umahi

    Gov David Umahi of Ebonyi on Wednesday in Abakaliki, declared that 95 per cent of states in the country cannot pay the proposed N30, 000 minimum wage to workers.

    Umahi, who is the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, said this while inaugurating a 36-member fact-finding committee to ascertain the mode of workers’ promotion arrears payment in states across the six geo-political zones of the states.

    According to Umahi, the payment of the N30, 000 can only be realised if the federation account allocation formula is reviewed to offer more earnings to states.

    “The federal government collects 52 per cent of the revenue from the federation account and when I tried to put the N30,000 figure to Local Government Areas (LGA) it means they will borrow N1billion to add to their allocation, in paying salaries.

    “I will definitely not be a governor to govern such a state and will never preside over a state that will allocate 100 per cent of its earnings to pay salaries,” he said.

    The governor recommended that the issue of petroleum subsidy in the country should also be reviewed as had been noted by the state and federal governments.

    “We must presently have the courage to say this because a lot of money can be saved from the subsidy if properly distributed.

    “When 100, 000 litres of petrol is allocated to me for instance and deducted from my allocation, it is then my business to ensure that there is no leakage.

    “There is no governor or political office holder that signs cheques but civil servants as the country’s leaders and labour are just putting water inside a basket and praying God to hold it with this minimum wage issue,” he said.

     

    He urged the country’s leaders and labour to liaise and decide on the percentage of the federation account that should be voted for salaries and other sectors.

    “We should determine how much should be allocated to education, health, infrastructure among others if 100 per cent of earnings are used to pay workers salaries.

    “Many states are experiencing various problems and cannot pay salaries but the people condemn their governments over their inability to provide good roads and other amenities.

    “People don’t understand the problems being experienced by these states and the governors have kept quiet for long and need to speak presently,” he said.

    Umahi regretted that the issue of promotion arrears for workers in the state had lingered for long and urged the committee to be sincere with their findings to find an amicable solution to it.

    “We have been setting up committees on this issue and getting no results with people not being sincere and resorting to all sorts of things,” he said.

    Read also: Minimum Wage: Buhari to study report before any announcement – FG

    Dr Hyginus Nwokwu, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) noted that the issue made the governor to institute a 36-man member committee to tour states in the six geo political zones and ascertain the mode of payments.

    “The members are drawn from critical elements of state with the organised labour having 12 nominees, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) 12 nominees and the government-12 nominees.

    “The committee will tour three states in each of these zones, ascertain relevant facts, analyse and present them to enable government take disposable and final actions on the matter,” he said.

    Mr Leonard Nkah, the Acting Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state and Chairman of the committee pledged to ensure the actualisation of the committee’s aims.

    “We pledge to assiduously discharge our duties and make recommendations that will permanently solve the problem for a healthy government and labour relationship,” he said. (NAN)

  • Minimum Wage: Buhari to study report before any announcement – FG

    The Federal Government says President Muhammadu Buhari will study the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage before making his view known to Nigerians.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the clarification when he addressed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which was presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage chaired by former Head of Service, Ama Pepple, had on Tuesday submitted its report to President Buhari with a recommendation of N30,000 as new National Minimum Wage.

    While receiving the Tripartite Committee Report, President Buhari pledged that the Federal Government would soon transmit an Executive Bill (on National Minimum Wage) to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

    Read also: I’m committed to new minimum wage -Buhari

    He said: “Our plan is to transmit the Executive bill to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

    “I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.’’

    To this end, some traditional media outfits and the social media reported that the president had endorsed the Pepple’s recommendation of N30,000 minimum wage.

    But, the minister said the president was only in receipt of the recommendations of the Ama Pepple’s Report, and he would consider it before making his views known to the public.

    He said: “I think it was a recommendation. So, Mr President will consider it and would make his views known in due course.

    “So, like I said recommendations have been made and Mr President would get back to the committee after he has studied the recommendations.’’

    It would be recalled that the Presidency had also frowned at the misinterpretation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s remarks when he received the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage from the committee’s chairman, Ama Pepple, on Tuesday.

    It said that the president did not endorse N30,000 as proposed by committee as being reported by some sections of the media.

    “But the president’s speech at the event was immediately made available to the media and nowhere indicated that the president endorsed N30,000 Minimum wage,’’ a presidential source maintained.

    President Buhari had also expressed delight that the Amal Pepple committee had successfully completed its assignment in a peaceful and non-controversial manner.

    “Let me use this opportunity to recognise the leadership of the organised labour and private sector as well as representatives of State and Federal Governments for all your hard work.

    “The fact that we are here today, is a notable achievement.

    “As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report.

    “I, therefore, would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.”

    The president, however, enjoined the leadership of the labour unions as well as the Nigerian workers to avoid being used as political weapons.

    “May I therefore, enjoin workers and their leaders not to allow themselves to be used as political weapons,’’ he said. (NAN)

     

  • Minimum Wage: Nigerian workers deserve a better deal—Victor Oye

    Dr Victor Oye, National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Wednesday in Awka said Nigerian Workers deserve all that they could get due to their contributions to development of the country.

    Oye, made the assertion in an interview with our reporter, said the economic reality of the country had made workers the “weeping boys” of the system.

    He urged the Federal Government to not only enhance their pay but improve on their working conditions.

    The APGA chairman commended the quality of negotiations between government, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Organised Private Sector that led to aversion of the threatened industrial action.

    Oye commended the Anambra Government for paying salaries on the 25th every month and for being among the first states to offer to pay N30, 000 minimum wage

    “Nigerian workers deserve a better deal considering the harsh economic atmosphere in the country; they have always been at the receiving end.

    “That the Federal Government is able to avert the strike brought a huge relief to Nigerians and averted what would have come with consequences of embarrassing proportion.

    “APGA urges the federal and state governments to take the welfare of workers seriously.

    “They must come up with a programme on how to develop the cognitive and latent talents of workers to make them more productive,” he said.

    Read Also:I’m committed to new minimum wage – Buhari

    On his part, Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central at the National Assembly, said he considered the N30,000 a meager amount that could not lift any home out if poverty.

    Umeh argued that governors could pay the amount the NLC was asking for if they could appropriate the state resources efficiently and be more innovative.

    “Nigerian workers do not have a living wage; we cannot continue to pretend and say there is no money when a lot of people are living in affluence.

    “They deserve living wage, even the N30, 000 they are demanding is not a living wage, government should know how to manage its resources to enable it pay workers,” he said.

    Umeh thanked workers for suspending the strike that was to begin on Nov. 6 and expressed the hope that all parties would respect the terms reached during the negotiations.

  • Minimum wage: Buhari has not endorsed N30,000 – Presidency

    The Presidency has frowned at the misinterpretation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s remarks when he received the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage from the committee’s chairman, Ama Pepple, on Tuesday.

    A presidential source, who preferred not to be named, said the president did not endorse N30,000 as proposed by committee as being reported by some sections of the media.

    He, however, stated that President Buhari had expressed his commitment to ensuring the implementation of a new National Minimum Wage.

    “But the president’s speech at the event was immediately made available to the media and nowhere indicated that the president endorsed N30,000 Minimum wage.

    “It is not the duty of the president only to endorse a new national minimum wage. The process involves the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the National Economic Council (NEC) and the National Assembly.

    “It is imperative for us to always avoid misinterpreting a written speech,’’ he added.

    At the submission of the report of the Tripartite Committee that negotiated a new minimum wage with labour and other stakeholders, President Buhari pledged that the Federal Government would soon transmit an Executive bill (on National Minimum Wage) to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

    He said: “Our plan is to transmit the Executive bill to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

    “I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.’’

    Buhari also expressed delight that the committee had successfully completed its assignment in a peaceful and non-controversial manner.

    “Let me use this opportunity to recognise the leadership of the organised labour and private sector as well as representatives of State and Federal Governments for all your hard work.

    “The fact that we are here today, is a notable achievement.

    “As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report.

    Read also: I’m fully committed to having new National Minimum Wage, says Buhari

    “I, therefore, would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.”

    The President, however, enjoined the leadership of the labour unions as well as the Nigerian workers to avoid being used as political weapons.

    “May I therefore, employ workers and their leaders not to allow themselves to be used as political weapons,’’ he said.

    In her remarks, Pepple explained that the recommendation made by the committee was predicated on the high cost of living, occasioned by the exchange rate as well as the rising inflation rate in the country.

    She said that the committee also considered micro-economic indicators including the revenue and expenditure profile of the government.

    Pepple expressed the hope that the implementation of the recommended minimum wage would boost the purchasing power of the working class, increase consumption expenditure, and stimulate economic growth

  • Workers excited as Buhari accepts N30,000 proposal

    Workers were excited yesterday over the coming N30,000 minimum wage.

    “I am fully committed to having a new national Minimum Wage Act in the very near future,” President Muhammadu Buhari said.

    He was receiving the report of the committee set up to resolve the wage problem.

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba led the way in hailing the presentation of the N30,000 minimum wage  recomendation report to Buhari.

    He said payment of the new wage might be difficult at the beginning of implementation, but “if there is the will, we are certain that there will be a way out.”

    He told reporters at the Villa after the Tripartite Commttee submitted its report to the President: “When the N18,000 was actually implemented in 2011, most of the states emptied their treasury. They had difficulty.”

    Lagos Chamber of Commerce and  Industry Director-General Muda Yusuf said although the private sector was paying above the current minimum wage, “there may be different challenges for the SMEs as they may adopt different models for engagement.  Rather than keep all the staff, they may rationalise them by inviting only those that they need at a particular time. The big corporations have nothing to worry about as they are already paying the minimum wage.”

    Read also: Jubilation in Kano over N30, 000 minimum wage

    He praised the government for working successfully with the private sector and labour to arrive at an acceptable figure and averting a strike.

    Workers were jubilating over the new wage. In Kano, Ibadan and Abakaliki, they were delighted at the approval of the new pay.

    A cross section of the workers who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan said the successful meeting of the tripartite committee was appreciated.

    Mr Peter Ojelakin, of the National Population Commission (NPC) said a good welfare package was the wish of every civil servant, adding that a dedicated worker would not have interest in embarking on a strike.

    “So, the suspension of the strike that supposed to begin today is a good development,” he said.

    Mr Rasheed Abdulwahab was happy over the agreement labour reached with the government but noted that increase in wages, might lead to inflation, a development he said called for an improved economy.

    He, however, called on workers to justify the salary increase by putting in their best to ensure the desired improvement in the social and economic development of the country.

    Mr Lekan Dojutelegan, a surveyor at the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, hailed the government for shifting ground on its earlier proposed N24, 000.

    Dojutelegan urged civil servants to be more diligent and committed to their duties, saying that optimum performance would enable the government to pay the new minimum wage with ease.

    Kano State NLC Chairman Kabiru Ado Minjibir, praised the national leaderships of NLC, TUC and ULC, “for standing firm on the decision of the Central Working Committee and their resilience to protect the interest of Nigerian workers, especially at this trying period.”