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Tag: minimum wage

  • Minimum wage’ll be reviewed in less than 2 yrs – Minister

    Minimum wage’ll be reviewed in less than 2 yrs – Minister

    The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, says the new minimum wage will be reviewed in less than two years from now.

    Onyejeocha said this on Thursday in Umuahia, while addressing newsmen after a meeting with labour leaders in Abia.

    She said that President Bola Tinubu was committed to his promise to Nigerian workers by ensuring minimum wage was reviewed after three years.

    She said that the president was deeply concerned about the welfare of workers and would keep to every promise he made to them.

    “We are not going to allow minimum wage review to be forever.

    “It used to be about five years, but now, in three year’s time, which is less than two years, we will also review the minimum wage,” Onyejeocha said.

    According to her, it has been said and it has been documented.

    NAN reports that Tinubu had approved N70,000 minimum wage in July 2024, with a promise to review it every three years.

    Onyejeocha, who hails from Abia, said that she decided to meet with the labour leaders, who she described as her constituents, “to wish them well”, after spending her Christmas and New Year holidays in the state.

    She said that she reminded the leaders that labour is an integral part of the government that should help to ensure stability and peace, not just at work place, but also in the country.

    “I reminded them that we should have a strike-free year, where we will be able to work with the government in partnership, knowing that if we are in peace, we will be more productive,” she said.

    The Abia Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Ogbomna Okoro, commended the minister for her giant stride in office, saying that the body was proud of her and would collaborate with her.

    Earlier, the minister, who is from a royal family, had a roundtable with the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, where she took time to explain some Federal Government’s policies to them.

  • NYSC upgrades corps members allowance

    NYSC upgrades corps members allowance

    The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed has assured Corps Members that the payment of their new monthly allowance of Seventy-Seven Thousand Naira would soon commence.

    He stated this today in Abuja when he commissioned a 32-seater bus donated by Capital Express Insurance Company.

    The Director General said the bus would ease the transportation challenges being experienced by Corps Members and some NYSC Staff within the FCT.

    General Ahmed who said his administration places high priority on Corps welfare, added that arrangements for the payment of new Corps allowance have been concluded.

    Speaking further, the Director General expressed appreciation to the Management of Capital Express Insurance for the kind gesture.

    In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Express Insurance Company, Mr Matthew Ogwezhi said NYSC and his company have been in partnership for a while, and the donation was one of the benefits of the synergy as a support for the Scheme.

    He promised that Capital Express Insurance would also consider other possible areas of assistance to the Scheme in year 2025.

  • Minimum wage: Gov Nwifuri vows to fire, replace workers within 3days over strike

    Minimum wage: Gov Nwifuri vows to fire, replace workers within 3days over strike

    The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has threatened to sack workers who participated in compliance with the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warning strike over alleged failure of the state government to implement the new minimum wage.

    The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has threatened to sack workers who participated in compliance with the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warning strike over alleged failure of the state government to implement the new minimum wage.

    Ebonyi state government is not owing any worker in the state, both pension, gratuity and salary and we are paying the minimum wage as enshrined in the Act of the National Assembly.

    “Ebonyi workers are enjoying their promotion accordingly. My worry is why should our state join in a strike action when there is no reason for it”.

    According to Governor Nwifuru, the state government will not hesitate to replace striking workers, as he has directed all the relevant government officials to ensure they take attendance of those who reported to work and those who didn’t starting from today.

    “If any government staff didn’t go to work within the next 72 hours, not just that I won’t pay you, but I will go ahead to replace the staff. If I didn’t see you in the office, as far as am not guilty and am not owing you, I am paying you what you are supposed to be paid and according to our agreement and you refuses to go to work, within 72 hours, I will replace you.

    I have informed the Chairman of the Civil Service commission, I have directed all the commissioners, all the agencies and departments of government to be in their different offices and ensure they take records of the staff that comes to work and those are the people that will be paid through table payment.

    “The staff will be paid by the number of days that they came to work. If any staff decides not to come to work, let the person forget about Ebonyi State Government”.

    The Governor also expressed regrets over the purported letter written to him by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which was posted on social media platforms, adding that he was yet to receive the letter before it went viral.

    He insisted that he will not negotiate with the NLC chairman in the state as he is not a staff of the state government.

    Ebonyi State will not fold it’s hands and watch someone’s personal interest override the state interest. I advised the NLC Chairman in the state to invite the whole workers of the state to come to the stadium and discuss the minimum wage issue to know if we were wrong or if the labour union are the people that are wrong.

    “I met with the NLC Chairman alongside others 3 days ago and we discussed this issue. He insisted that the committee was supposed to sign agreement with me but I said no, that the minimum wage is an Act of the National Assembly which doesn’t require me to start signing any other agreement with the NLC and Committee in the state.

    Nwifuru maintained that the state government implemented the minimum wage in line with the provisions of the law, adding that the letter of the NLC fails to address the discrepancies as alleged in their letter.

    He warned members of the labour union against taking their personal interest as the general interest of the workers in the state, adding that, by doing that, they will be breeding what they cannot take.

  • NLC being unfair to us – Kaduna govt cries out

    NLC being unfair to us – Kaduna govt cries out

    Governor Uba Sani has began the implementation of the National Minimum Wage Act in Kaduna State, an official stated on Sunday in Kaduna.

    Sani’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Ibraheem Musa, in a statement said it was a misrepresentation for the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state to claim the state government has defaulted.

    “It is unfair to lump the state with some others yet to do so,” he said.

    Musa added that NLC’s lumping of Kaduna State with others was grossly unfair because the least paid worker received N72,000 as gross salary in the month of November.

    “The Executive Governor of Kaduna State has complied with the spirit and letter of the National Minimum Wage Law, by paying the lowest paid civil servant N72,000 last month.

    “NLC is  harping on the issue of consequential adjustment, but the labour body should realise that there is a difference between salary increment and Minimum Wage,’’ the CPS explained.

    He went on to disclose that Kaduna State receives an average of N8 billion from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in Abuja every month.

    “The state also generates around N4 billion monthly. That translates to N12 billion revenue monthly. But the monthly wage bill in the state has jumped from N5.4 billion to N6.3 billion with the implementation of the Minimum Wage last month.

    “There is also the deduction of N4 billion for loan payments every month. So, the wage bill and the deductions have gulped over N10 million out of the total N12 billion revenue.

    “That leaves  only N2 billion for rural transformation, overhauling the health sector, revamping education and providing dividends of democracy to the people of Kaduna State,’’ Musa said.

    He then contended that it would be unfair for the Kaduna State Government to spend almost all its revenue on consequential adjustments, after paying the mandatory Minimum Wage.

    “There are over 10 million people who are also entitled to the accrued revenue of Kaduna State. There are 84,827 civil servants in the state.

    “So, it is unreasonable for Government to spend over 90 percent of its revenue on just about one percent of the population,‘’ the governor’s spokesman explained.

    He then pleaded with the NLC to exercise patience over the consequential adjustments, pending when Government’s  revenue would improve.

    “Gov. Uba Sani is labour-friendly. Kaduna State Government has already bought buses for civil servants which will convey them to and from work free of charge, as part of the palliatives to cushion effect of prevailing economic challenges,” Musa said.

  • Cross River workers prepare for strike

    Cross River workers prepare for strike

    The organised labour unions in Cross River says it is set for the industrial action as proposed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the implementation of the new minimum wage.

    The State chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Monday Ogbodum, said this during an interview in Calabar on Saturday.

    NLC had fixed Sunday midnight for the commencement of the strike if the state government failed to implement the new minimum wage of N70, 000.

    Ogbodum said except the Cross River government implemented the new  wage regime there would be no going back on the industrial action.

    The TUC chairman, who said that negotiation with the state government was still in progress, however said that will not stop them from joining the strike if the need be.

    “Yes, we are still in talk with the government. We had a meeting on Thursday and another one on Friday that ended late in the evening.

    “There is going to be another meeting today (Saturday), but that is not to say things are well, though the government has shown some level of seriousness.

    “Our position is that even if we sign any document or agreement today, that does not still amount to implementation,’’ he said.

  • Osun announces take off date for payment of new minimum wage

    Osun announces take off date for payment of new minimum wage

    The Osun State Government and labour leaders in the state have agreed for the new minimum wage of N75,554 to officially take effect from Dec. 1.

    The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Kolapo Alimi, made this known in a statement on Friday.

    Alimi said the implementation date was agreed to after an extensive and exhaustive negotiations between the state government team and members of organised labour.

    He said that the New National Minimum Wage of N75,554.28 was for all categories of workers in the service of the state including local government employees.

    The commissioner said that the governor had equally approved an improved pension package of N25,000, across board, for all pensioners in the state; in consideration of the plight of the senior citizens.

    The gestures to both public service workers and pensioners in the state, the commissioner said, was a testament to the priority accorded workers and pensioners in the Five Point Agenda of the Adeleke-led administration.

    “The Adeleke administration is geared towards ensuring a productive and public service that will ultimately bring about effective and efficient service delivery .

    “It is to be noted that, the implementation of the New Minimum Wage is in line with the table arrived at, following extensive and exhaustive deliberations between the state government team and labour leaders.

    “Among the parameters taken into consideration included, but are not limited to; the availability of revenue; possible revenue forecast; existing debt burdens as well as sustainability and continued growth and development of Osun State.

    “The effective date of the commencement of the New National Minimum Wage in Osun State is Dec. 1, 2024; while one month arrears shall also be paid accordingly.

    “It is also to be noted that other salary structures within the public service system would be attended to as appropriate,” Alimi said.

    The commissioner, however, enjoined all public servants in the state to reciprocate the kind gesture of the governor, with renewed vigour and commitment to their duties.

  • Gov Otu begs labour to shelve planned strike

    Gov Otu begs labour to shelve planned strike

    Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River has appealed to labour unions in the state to shelve their planned  industrial action over none implementation of the new minimum wage.

    The governor said his administration remained committed to the implementation of the new wage of N70, 000 recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

    The governor made the appeal during the 5th edition of the State Solemn Assembly held Saturday night at U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    Represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Odey, Otu said his government would continue to prioritise welfare of workers in the state.

    It would be recalled that labour unions in the state had on Wednesday issued notice of 2-day warning strike scheduled to commence midnight of Sunday.

    The unions attributed the planned action to the breakdown of negotiations between it and the government.

    The organised labour threatened that after the warning strike the industrial action would continue with a December 1 panned nationwide strike.

    “I appeal to the leadership of organised labor and all affiliates of the NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) and TUC (Trade Union Congress) to suspend their planned strike.

    “I enjoin them to support the government in the quest to improve the lots of our people,’’ Out said.

    He urged the people of Cross River to sustain their support and prayers for the administration to achieve its ‘People First’ mantra.

  • Yobe Gov, Buni approves N70k as minimum wage

    Yobe Gov, Buni approves N70k as minimum wage

    Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has approved the payment of N70,000 minimum wage to civil servants in the state effective December 2024.

    This is contained in a memo signed by the governor, following recommendations by the committee on Minimum wage constituted by the state government.

    The committee had recommended for a reconciliation of local government finances to ensure a hitch free transition process of the local government councils from the existing salary structure to the new minimum wage.

    The reconciliation process which is nearing completion is expected to be concluded soon for approval, and quick enrolment of the local government employees into the new minimum wage salary structure.

    The committee had recommended for a reconciliation of local government finances to ensure a hitch free transition process of the local government councils from the existing salary structure to the new minimum wage.

    The reconciliation process which is nearing completion is expected to be concluded soon for approval, and quick enrolment of the local government employees into the new minimum wage salary structure.

    According to a statement signed by the spokesman to the governor, Mamman Mohammed, the Government expects civil servants in the state to reciprocate the gesture by putting in their best to ensure effective and efficient service delivery

  • Buni approves N70,000 minimum wage for Yobe workers

    Buni approves N70,000 minimum wage for Yobe workers

    Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, has approved the payment of N70,000 new minimum wage for civil servants in the state.

    Buni, in a statement by his Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, in Damaturu on Saturday, said the payment would take effect from December.

    According to Mohammed, the approval is contained in a memo signed by the governor, following recommendations by a committee on the minimum wage earlier constituted by the state government.

    “The committee had recommended for a reconciliation of local government finances to ensure a hitch-free transition process of the local government councils from the existing salary structure to the new minimum wage.

    “The reconciliation process, which is nearing completion is expected to be concluded soon for approval, and quick enrolment of the local government employees into the new minimum wage salary structure,” he said.

    The aide said that the state government expected civil servants to reciprocate the gesture by putting in their best towards effective service delivery.

  • N70,000 minimum wage means more work – Wike tells FCT workers

    N70,000 minimum wage means more work – Wike tells FCT workers

    Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says more work is expected from workers of the FCT Administration following the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.

    Wike stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, when he inspected the ongoing construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, access road to the complex and the Airport Road to Kuje expressway.

    The acting Head of Civil Service in the FCT, Mrs Grace Adayilo, had in a statement announced Wike’s approval for the payment of the minimum wage and the arrears to FCT workers.

    The minister explained that the implementation was in fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve the welfare of workers.

    “In line with that, we have also adopted the N70,000 minimum wage and approved the payment of the arrears as agreed with the labour union.

    “I expect that the workers will also see this as a boost and be more committed for us to achieve the development that is required in the city.

    “So, workers should not live like, oh, money has been paid. It means more work is expected from you,” the minister said.