The organized Labour in Nigeria has called on Nigerians to be patient with the Federal and State Governments in the implementation of the new minimum wage. This is following the delay in the payment of the new minimum wage by the both the Federal and State Governments.
The delay notwithstanding, the organized labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Union, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC have absolved the Federal Government of any wrongdoing.
The union stated it would be unfair to conclude that there was a deliberate attempt to avoid paying the new minimum wage by the Government.
This was disclosed by the Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, he pointed that President Bola Tinubu signed the new minimum wage into law on July 29. After meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.
According to PUNCH only seven other States – Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Borno, Jigawa, Ondo, and Abia —have set up implementation committees for the recently approved N70,000 new minimum wage.
“The States yet to raise implementation panels are Plateau, Kebbi, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Delta, Osun, Ekiti, Zamfara, Benue and Enugu. Others are Taraba, Gombe, Kogi, Enugu, Adamawa, Niger, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Katsina, Kaduna, Cross River and Yobe.
“So far, only Lagos and Edo claimed to have started paying the new minimum wage.
PUNCH reported that Adamawa has also joined the growing list of States willing to pay the new wage on Monday.
On the development, Ndubuaku, insisted that it was important to let people know that there might be a slight delay. This, he said, might be as a result of the processes involved in the implementation of the N70,000 wage.
He, however, expressed optimism that the process may be concluded by the end of August.
“We have no reason to suspect that (deliberate delay). In a real sense, signing the wage is just a small component of the main activity. There is something we call consequential adjustment. That involves the calculation of the minimum wage from level one, step one. From there, we will move from stage one to 13, all the way to level 16.
“So, it is something that may take some time. Again, they are not going to compile them alone. There are templates for compiling it. But they must also carry us along. I believe you are aware there is a committee that is supposed to carry out the necessary adjustments. We expect it should be completed before the end of the month,” Ndubuaku said.
source: PUNCH
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