President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday inaugurated
the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee at the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
Noting
that the last minimum wage instrument has expired, he said that the
government’s move now is to ensure a fair and decent living wage for the
Nigerian workers.
He
said “You are all aware that during the period following the increase in Petrol
Pump Price in May 2016, a Technical Committee was established to examine and
make recommendations to Government on the measures to be adopted to cushion the
envisaged painful effects of the increase on workers and the Nigerian populace
at large.
“During
the deliberations of the Technical Committee which comprised Government and
Organized Labour, the need for the review of the National Minimum Wage was
highlighted and recommendation to set up a committee to look into the level of
minimum wage was made accordingly. I am glad that the recommendation is being
acted upon today and we can all acknowledge that this is in line with our
democratic process. I wish to thank all those who participated in that
exercise,” he said
He
stressed that the scope of the membership of the new National Minimum Wage
Committee showed that it encompassed all stakeholders.
The
President also hoped that the outcome of the deliberations of the Committee
would be consensual and generally acceptable.
He
urged the members to amicably consider the issue of a National Minimum Wage and
all matters that are ancillary to it with thoroughness and concern not only for
the welfare of the work-force but the effect on the country’s economy.
He
said “The subject of a National Minimum Wage for the Federation is within the
Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (as amended). Accordingly, we should aim to go above the basic Social
Protection Floor for all Nigerian workers based on the ability of each tier of
Government to pay.
“I
say this because minimum wage is the minimum amount of compensation an employee
must receive for putting in his or her labour and as such should be anchored on
Social Justice and Equity.
“Government’s
decision after considering your final recommendation will be sent as an
Executive Bill to the National Assembly for it to undergo appropriate
legislative scrutiny before passage into law.
“As
is evident by the membership of the Committee, State Governors and Private
Sector Employers are part of this process. This will ensure ease of
implementation of a new Minimum Wage nationwide.
“I
am hopeful that the principles of full consultation with Social Partners and
their direct participation would be utilized by the Committee, bearing in mind
the core provisions of the International Labour Organisation Minimum Wage
Fixing Convention No. 131 and Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery Convention No.26
(ratified by Nigeria).
“Accordingly,
conditions of genuine Social Dialogue should prevail in the spirit of Tripartism
and Collective Bargaining Agreements. I therefore enjoin you all to
collectively bargain in good faith, have mutual recognition for each other and
always in a spirit of give and take.
“The
Committee is expected to complete its deliberations and submit its report and
recommendations as soon as possible to enable other requisite machinery to be
set in motion for implementation of a new National Minimum Wage.” he said
According
to a statement signed by the deputy director (Press) at the Ministry of Labour and
Employment, Samuel Olowokere, former head of service of the federation, Ama
Pepple, is to chair the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee
The
federal government team will be led by the minister of labour and
employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who is deputy chairman, while the
chairman, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission,Chief Richard
Egbule, will serve as secretary.
Others
in the the federal government team are the minister, Budget and Planning,
Udo Udo Udoma; minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; head of the Civil
Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita ; permanent secretary, General
Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Dr. Roy Ugo.
A
team from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) includes Osun State governor, Rauf
Aregbesola (South West), Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha (Souh East), Gombe
State governor, Hassan Dankwambo (North East), Rivers State governor, Nyesom
Wike (South South), Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong (North Central),
and Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (North West), while the
director-general of NGF, A. B. Okauru will be an observer.
On
the trade union’s side, the president, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade
Ayuba Wabba, leads a team that include, comrades Peters Adeyemi, Kiri Mohammed,
Amechi Asugwuni, Peter Ozo-Eson .
The
Trade Union Congress (TUC) team, led by its president, Comrade Bobboi
Bala Kaigama , has comrades in its fold; Sunday Olusoji Salako,
Alade Bashir Lawa, and Igwe Achese, the president, Nigeria Union of Petroleum
and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG)
On
the employers’ side are the director-general, Nigeria
Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, Mr
Timothy Olawale (NECA), Mr. Chuma Nwankwo (NECA); Mr Olubunmi Adekoje, DG,
Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI); Alhaji Ahmed Ladan Gobir,
chairman, Kaduna East Branch, Manufacturers’ Association (MAN), Otunba Francis
Oluwagbenro (MAN); Hajia Muheeba Dankaka, president, Kano Chambers of
Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Prince
Degun Agboade, president, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium
Enterprises (NASME).
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