The agitation of Labour for a new minimum wage template is set to yield fruit as the Federal Executive Council meets to among other things, review the report of the joint committee on the National Minimum wage.
This indication was given by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Chris Ngige in Abuja. He said that the 16-man Committee on minimum wage and palliatives had submitted to the main committee headed by the Secretary to the government of the federation the report of their committee . He also noted that the report was penultimate week adopted by the 29-man joint committee, adding that the adopted report is now to be taken to the Federal Executive Council for approval after which the Acting President, Yemi Osinbanjo will constitute a National Minimum wage review committee. The wage review committee will now be saddled with the responsibility of fixing a new minimum wage for the country.
“it has become imperative for a new minimum wage because the last minimum wage has a life span of five years ; it was last signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan and it elapsed by August, 2016, “Ngige said.
The Minister maintained that because minimum wage issue is a constitutional matter, all stakeholders will be involved in the final decision, stressing that it is a law that will have a national application covering both those in the public and private sector.
Organised Labour all over the country had used the May Day platform to remind the government both at the federal and state level that their wages could no longer take care of their financial obligations, asking government to fast track the implementation of the new minimum wage template.
