Employers of labour in Nigeria have expressed their readiness to pay the new minimum wage as soon as it becomes law. National umbrella body of the employers , Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), gave this assurance at the ongoing International Labour Organization conference in Geneva ,Switzerland.
According to the Director General election of NECA, Segun Oshinowo , the employers consultative association has agreed on the reality on ground in the country that the current minimum wage is inadequate and has outlived its usefulness as a living wage.
Osinowo noted that the issues raised over the timing of the takeoff of a new minimum wage and the argument from the labour sector is unnecessary, stressing that efforts should rather be geared towards negotiating a sustainable wage figure that workers will be contented about.
The NECA stakeholder maintained that regardless of when negotiations are concluded , all stakeholders must show commitment to the process that will fast track the negotiations for the benefit of Nigerian workers.
Reacting to this , the President of The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Waba said the September date set as takeoff timeline for the commencement of the new minimum wage regime is very achievable if all the members of the tripartite committee on new minimum wage are committed to doing what is right. Waba insisted that the September timeline had been known from the very beginning of the assignment, wondering why the government representatives on the committee is now contemplating shifting “the goal post in the middle of the game”
” If there is commitment and willingness to do it, the entire negotiation and passage of the new minimum wage bill into law can be conveniently fast tracked and executed even ahead of September “, Ayuba Waba said.
