The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has disclosed on Wednesday in Abuja that the federal government will reconstitute a new committee to start on a new slate a fresh negotiation for full implementation of the new National Minimum wage.
The minister made this statement when the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) paid him a courtesy call in his office on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency for Nigeria (NAN) reported that there have been hitches with a partial implementation of the wage considering its commencement in level 1-6 in some quarters.
Ngige revealed that it is important for those earning above the N30,000 that is those on grade level 17 to exercise some little patience as the government and the labour is yet to agree on the consequential adjustment.
“The issue of the national minimum wage will be sorted out for those other cadres, and I am very hopeful that it will be done as soon as possible, the minister added.
He said the NLC and the TUC have not been in the picture in recent time, however, when the new committee is set up, we hope to have a speedy negotiation.
“It is regrettable that negotiations were deadlocked from levels seven (7) to till 17, the issue is still lingering on what percentage or slides that they should be considered.
It is unfortunate that we are still where we were, we are going negotiate more, it is a Collective Bargaining Arrangement (CBA), because if we only talk about the minimum wage, it is almost a concluded deal as the minimum wage is for the persons who are on grade level seven downwards.”
The minister called on Nigerians and the proposed committee to be sensible in their demands, saying “the economy is biting hard and there is a need for their support and the provisions of the fiscal responsibility law cautions government on spending and debts.
