The federal government disclosed that unrealistic demand from the Senior Staff Union members of labour were responsible for the delay in the implementation of the new National Minimum wage.
This statement was made by, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF) on Monday in Abuja during a two days Retreat for top Management staff of the office of the Head of the civil service, Manpower development institute (MDI) and Federal training centres (FTCs).
The retreat was on the 2017-2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP), meant to drive the transformation of the Nigerian civil service in line with global standard.
Oyo-Ita added, the Presidential committee responsible for the adjustment of the new minimum wage has been set up for a hitch-free work on the minimum wage and its consequential negotiation between the government and the Labour Union.
She sad “President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to implementing the new national minimum wage and that is why the presidential committee on the consequential adjustment arising from the minimum wage has been making effort to plan on it. And has gone to the extent to sit with the union leadership within the public service to come out with the consequential adjustment arising from the new minimum wage.
According to her, there were few that she called unrealistic demand from the union. To avoid delay in the implementation of the policy of Mr. President, they had to seek the approval to implement the minimum wage with effect from 18th April 2018 as agreed.
Mrs Oyo-Ita said the federal government would not allow the demands of the senior staff unions to affect those the minimum wage was largely meant to address, the low-income earners.
She, however, said the conversation on the controversial issues was still ongoing with all the unions, particularly the senior staff unions.
