Adelani Adepegba, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress has expressed shock over the statement by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige that the new minimum wage cannot be implemented in September, 2018.
The congress decried the delay in the implementation of the new minimum wage, noting that the expected increase in salaries is the difference between survival and extinction for many workers.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement on Friday, queried the sudden change in the proposed implementation date, noting that Ngige had without any prompting informed the world that the Federal Government would start paying the new wage in September.
He said, “The current volte face by the Minister of Labour is not only provocative, it is also insensitive especially in the face of the excruciating suffering being endured by Nigerian workers particularly as occasioned by the increase in the cost of living.”
“Do we need to remind the Minister that he was once a civil servant who always looked forward to his monthly salary? Nigerian workers who are not privileged to earn fat salaries, allowances, estacodes and other perks of political appointment are looking forward to enjoy minimal relief in the form of the new national minimum wage,” the congress president stated.
The union described Ngige’s statement as a gaffe that is inconsistent with the fervour so far demonstrated by the tripartite committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to review the national minimum wage.
Wabba stated that the minister’s stance was also at variance with the declaration made by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo when he represented the President at this year’s May Day celebration.
“Our concern is, who is the Minister of Labour speaking for? Nigerian workers want to know who has sent Dr. Chris Ngige on this nebulous errand. On whose side is the Minister of Labour on the upward review of the National Minimum Wage?” the NLC queried.
It admonished the tripartite committee on the minimum wage to expedite action and ensure that discussions and negotiations are concluded by August, 2018 “so that Nigerian workers can start benefitting as quickly as possible from the New National Minimum Wage
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