TheNewsGuru

Tag: minimum wage

  • Minimum wage: Stop tongue lashing Buhari, he never endorsed N30,000 – Presidency

    The Presidency on Thursday warned those critising President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly reneging on his promise of paying N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

    The presidency insisted that reports of endorsement of the N30,000 recommended by the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee were not correct.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, made the clarification in a statement made available to journalists.

    He said what Buhari committed himself to was a new minimum wage only after the report of the committee has been reviewed by the executive and legislative processes of government and an appropriate bill presented to him for assent.

    The presidential spokesman said through the period the committee submitted its report to Buhari, “the President never mentioned any figure. What he committed himself to was a new minimum wage, and only after the report of the committee has been reviewed by the executive and legislative processes of government and an appropriate bill presented to him for assent.

    “Until the proposed minimum wage has gone through the whole gamut of law-making, President Buhari, who is a stickler for due process, will not be caught in this unnecessary web of controversy, which amounts to putting the cart before the horse and hair-splitting.

    “As for those who have latched onto the concocted controversy to play cheap politics, we appeal to them to remember that elections are not won through loquaciousness, and trying to demean the President at every drop of a hat.

    “But then, it is not surprising, as they have nothing else to sell to Nigerians, if they don’t ride on the name of the President. Stiff judgment awaits them at the polls.”

    While saying the Presidency is concerned over what he described as the recurring reports, Adesina insisted that the reports are contrary to what transpired on when the committee presented its report to the President.

    He said while acknowledging the concerns raised by government on affordability and Labour’s focus on meaningful increase, Buhari stated clearly in his speech, that, “In a way, both arguments are valid. I want to assure you all that we will immediately put in place the necessary machinery that will close out these open areas.

    “Our plan is to transmit an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for passage within the shortest possible time.

    “I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.

    “As the Executive arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report.

    “I, therefore, would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.”

  • Ekweremadu threatens to release video clip of ‘assassination attempt’

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu on Wednesday threatened to release video clips of how his house was invaded by alleged assassins on Tuesday.

    Ekweremadu said he may be forced to actualise his threat to release the video clip, if the Police fail to withdraw its claim that what happened in his house was a mere case of burglary.

    The Senate resolved to ask the police to do a thorough investigation of the alleged assassination attempt on Ekweremadu, his wife and son in the early hours of Tuesday.

    The upper chamber said the conclusion that the incident was a case of burglary appeared to be hasty.

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), who raised the issue, prayed the Senate to condemn the hasty conclusion by the Police that the invasion of Ekweremadu’s residence was a mere burglary case.

    Abaribe lamented that “for the police to quickly without interviewing the very person for whom this incident happened, to come out and determine that it was a burglary, actually burgles the mind. We know in this country that Bola Ige was killed in his home. We know and also it is a fact the former gubernatorial candidate, Funsho Williams was also killed in his home.

    “Our fear today is why the police are engaging in a cover up? Why is the police continually at any time that it concerns people that do not have presidential oversight or cover, they quickly come out and have a report,” the senator queried.

    Ekweremadu said a Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations visited his house with the FCT Police Commissioner on Tuesday afternoon to sympathise with him.

    “I showed them round and of course they were very sympathetic of what happened.”

    He also informed the Senate that he was shocked when he woke up yesterday morning to hear police saying that what happened in his house was “a mere case of burglary”.

    Ekweremadu said: “I am at a loss because as we speak, they have not taken any statement from my son, who was hospitalised; they have not gone to the hospital to find out what exactly happened to my son. They have invited security personnel attached to me, who reported yesterday. Some are still reporting this morning.

    “They (the Police) looked at the CCTV tapes operated by the DSS and a staff of my house; apparently they were not able to figure it out. So, it was easy for them to quickly dismiss what really happened.”

    He noted that he has been able to figure out the correct picture of what happened and added that he now has the video clip.

    “Unfortunately for them, later yesterday evening, a technician came and was able to figure out and was able to produce the CCTV footage, including how they gained entrance into my house and how they got a way into my room and the fight between them, my wife and my son and all the efforts we made to save our lives. I am happy that we have that in our custody, which the police is not aware of.

    He added: “I may now be forced to release those footage to the media, international communities so that Nigerians and ordinary people will judge whether it was a case of burglary or attempt to kill me or whether they just want to come to my house to have a breakfast or have a handshake with me.”

    The House of Representatives also yesterday resolved to constitute an ad hoc Committee to investigate the alleged assassination attempt on Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and members of his family.

    The committee is also mandated to find out the circumstances surrounding the late response of the Police to the emergency.

    The committee is to report back to the House in two weeks for further legislative action.

    The chamber also urged the relevant security agencies to ensure increased security surveillance around the Deputy Senate President as well as other members of the National Assembly.

  • Minimum wage: It’s N30, 000 or strike, labour tells FG

    The Federal Government said on Wednesday the N30,000 minimum wage proposal contained in the report of the tripartite committee set up by the Federal Government was still a recommendation and had not been approved.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke with State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, said President Muhammadu Buhari would still study the report presented to him on Tuesday by the Chairman of the committee, Amal Pepple, before taking a decision on it.

    Pepple had while presenting the report on Tuesday disclosed that the committee recommended that the national minimum wage be increased from N18,000 monthly to N30,000.#

    She also said her committee drafted a bill that the Federal Government would send to the National Assembly to effect the change.

    A section of the media had reported that Buhari accepted the report and endorsed the recommendation of N30,000 as the new minimum wage.

    Mohammed, however, said Buhari would only take a decision and make his view known after considering the report.

    “I think it (N30,000) was a recommendation. Mr President will consider it and will make his views known in due course,” the minister said.

    Meanwhile, Organised Labour has threatened to go on strike if the Federal Government fails to approve and implement the N30,000 minimum wage recommended by the tripartite committee.

    The General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, Mr Musa Lawal, said this while reacting to comments by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, that the report of the tripartite committee was a mere recommendation.

    Lawal said Organised Labour decided to shelve its planned strike because the government had expressed the willingness to accept the report of the tripartite committee.

    He warned that anything short of the full implementation of the report would be met with stiff opposition.

    The TUC general secretary said, “They can say anything they want to say. Why were they panicky before? Why did they agree to the N30, 000? They can call it a mere recommendation or whatever they want to call it but the important thing is that at the end of the day, if we do not get the N30,000, they know what we will do.”

  • N30,000 minimum wage: Buhari’s denial shows he can’t be trusted – Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari cannot be trusted with the implementation of the ‘new’ minimum wage of N30, 000 recently recommended by the tripartite committee.

    In a statement issued by his media office, the presidential hopeful said President Buhari, who is known for ‘flip-flopping’ may not have the political will to implement the new wage which he said does not even translate to a ‘living wage’.

    ”Our attention has been drawn to a statement from the Presidency denying President Buhari’s earlier pledge to pay the new minimum wage of ₦30,000 agreed with the Nigerian Labour Congress and other labour affiliates in a signed communiqué.

    ”This approbation and reprobation is characteristic of the Buhari administration and is evidence of the lack of leadership at the very top that is putting our economy in peril,” the statement said.

    It said Buhari has failed to note that the workers are the goose that ‘lay the golden eggs’ which members of his administration are enjoying. It added that the government has become synonymous with flip-flopping in policy implementation.

    ”Just two weeks ago, two of the world’s largest banks, HSBC and UBS, pulled out of Nigeria citing lack of policy stability as their reason. This same reason was given by Procter and Gamble when they pulled out last year. In the span of the three years that this administration has been in office, more than 500 companies have pulled out of Nigeria for similar reasons. Nigeria under President Buhari has become synonymous with policy flip-flopping.

    ”A government is only as reliable as its word and if its word is not reliable then nothing else about the government will be stable. This is why Nigeria suffered from a recession under this administration and is right now at risk of another recession.

    ”At the risk of repeating ourselves, we urge the Buhari administration to note that Nigerian workers are the goose that lays the golden egg that top members of this government are enjoying to the detriment of those laying the egg.”

    It also questioned the funds accruing to the president and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as wages while Nigerian workers suffer from poverty.

    ”We are aware that both President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo, despite living and feeding at the public expense, collect a hardship allowance of 50 per cent of their annual basic salary, whereas, the long-suffering Nigerian workers, who are the main sufferers of the hardship caused by the incompetence of this administration, do not have any hardship allowance and are expected to live on the unlivable minimum wage of the Buhari government.

    ”It is a testament to how badly we have treated our workforce over the last three years that Nigeria was officially declared the world headquarters for extreme poverty by the World Poverty Clock and the World Economic Forum. We can only change this by paying our workers a living wage as opposed to the starvation wages now paid to them by the Buhari administration.

    ”We, therefore, call on President Muhammadu Buhari to keep faith with the agreement his government freely reached with labour and affirm the new minimum wage.”

  • Presidency backtracks, says Buhari did not endorse N30,000 minimum wage

    The Presidency on Tuesday said reports that President Muhammadu Buhari endorsed the N30,000 new minimum wage was misleading.

    It insisted that the president’s remarks when he received the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage was misinterpreted by the media.

    Recall that Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja received the highly anticipated report from the committee’s chairman, Amal Pepple.

    A presidential source, who preferred not to be named, said the president did not endorse N30,000 as proposed by the committee as reported by some sections of the media.

    He, however, stated that President Buhari had expressed his commitment to ensuring the implementation of a new National Minimum Wage.

    “But the president’s speech at the event was immediately made available to the media and nowhere indicated that the president endorsed N30,000 Minimum wage.

    “It is not the duty of the president only to endorse a new national minimum wage. The process involves the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the National Economic Council (NEC) and the National Assembly.

    “It is imperative for us to always avoid misinterpreting a written speech,’’ he added.

    Recall that President Buhari had pledged that the Federal Government would soon transmit an Executive bill (on National Minimum Wage) to the National Assembly for passage within the shortest possible time.

    He said: “Our plan is to transmit the Executive bill to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

    “I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.’’

    Buhari also expressed delight that the committee successfully completed its assignment in a peaceful and non-controversial manner.

    “Let me use this opportunity to recognise the leadership of the organised labour and private sector as well as representatives of State and Federal Governments for all your hard work.

    “The fact that we are here today, is a notable achievement.

    “As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report.

    “I, therefore, would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.”

    The President, however, enjoined the leadership of the labour unions as well as the Nigerian workers to avoid being used as political weapons.

    “May I therefore, employ workers and their leaders not to allow themselves to be used as political weapons,’’ he said.

    In her remarks, Ms Pepple explained that the recommendation made by the committee was predicated on the high cost of living, occasioned by the exchange rate as well as the rising inflation rate in the country.

     

  • New minimum wage: Atiku lauds FG’s decision to pay N30,000

    New minimum wage: Atiku lauds FG’s decision to pay N30,000

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, AlhajiAtiku Abubakar, has commended the Federal Government for agreeing to pay N30,000 minimum wage negotiated with labour leaders in the country.

    Abubakar made the commendation in a statement during his Presidential Campaign Organisation on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He described Nigerian workers as the “goose that lays the golden egg” and was worthy of the best pay that Nigeria could afford.

    Abubakar recalled that he had last week stated his commitment to a living wage as one of the pillars of his soon-to-be-launched policy document on making workers’ welfare a priority.

    He commended the patriotism displayed by the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and other labour affiliates in suspending the planned nationwide strike.

    The former Vice President also called on the National Assembly to speedily pass legislation that would make the new minimum wage a statutory requirement.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to keep promise and abide by the new minimum wage agreement.

    “No sacrifice is too great to make for us to get Nigeria working again and that is what the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation is all about.

    “Abubakar means jobs, jobs that would pay the minimum wage and above because Nigeria should benefit the masses and not those who are in top government positions.”

    NAN

     

  • BREAKING: Buhari okays N30,000 new minimum wage

    BREAKING: Buhari okays N30,000 new minimum wage

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday endorsed N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

    He said this while receiving the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The report was submitted by the committee’s chairman, Amal Pepple.

    Buhari has also promised to send a bill to the National Assembly to effect the change from N18,000 to N30,000.

     

    Details later…

  • Minimum Wage: FG, Labour reach truce, figure to be released today

    Minimum Wage: FG, Labour reach truce, figure to be released today

    Labour leaders, who have called off a planned nationwide strike, have agreed a new national minimum wage at the end of negotiations with a Tripartite Committee, set up by the Federal government.

    The agreed figure will be kept under wraps until 4.15 pm on Tuesday, when it will be revealed in a report to be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, spoke to newsmen at the end of the Tripartite Committee meeting on the new National Minimum wage meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said the National Minimum Wage Negotiating committee has concluded its assignment and agreement has been reached and also documents have been signed.

    “The report will be submitted to Mr President by today and therefore, having reached this position, the Organised Labour also decided that the proposed strike is hereby suspended.

    ” Therefore, we thought this should be communicated appropriately without also divulging this information as mutual agreement has been reached,” he said.

    Ms Amma People, Chairman of the Tripartite Committee also noted that the assignment of the committee has been concluded.

    “We are going to present our report to Mr President today at 4:15 ,pm and he will reveal the figure that we have recommended, ” she said.

    Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary of the Government of the Federation commended members of the committee for their time and commitment on the processes of recommending the new minimum wage.

    “I am confident that government will give expeditious consideration of the report when submitted tomorrow to Mr President. And very soon the processes will be put in place to truly actualise your recommendations so that the status of our working populace will be enhanced and they would receive appropriate and commensurate payments for the services they offer to our nation and to the different sectors of our economy, ” he said.

    Recall that the organised Labour had threatened to commence nationwide strike on Nov. 6 over government rejection of a N30,000 minimum wage. Government offered N24,000, which labour also rejected.

     

  • Minimum Wage: NUT directs teachers to join nationwide strike

    Minimum Wage: NUT directs teachers to join nationwide strike

    The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Niger State chapter, has instructed all teachers in the state to join in the nationwide strike for increment of wages by organised labour.

    Addressing newsmen on Monday at the end of the State Wing Executive Council meeting at the NUT Teachers House in Minna, the state chairman, Ibrahim Umar, called for an approval for the increase in the retirement age of teachers to 65 years.

    Umar said, “We received a directive from the national body that by 12 midnight of Monday, if nothing happens in the affirmative, we should join in the national strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress.”

    The state chairman, while disclosing that the number of teachers in the state has reduced from 30,000 to less than 27,000 said, “We want Governor Abubakar Bello to send an executive bill to the Minimum Wage: NUT directs teachers to join nationwide strikestate House of Assembly for the express approval to increase the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years and 35 to 40 years of service.

    The Union also urged the Niger State Government to regularise the release and implementation of members’ promotion at both primary and post primary school levels between 2015 and 2017.

  • Minimum wage: NLC dares Buhari, governors, insists on November 6 nationwide strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has charged its members to continue to mobilize in preparation for the commencement of an indefinite strike on the 6th of November if recommendations of the Tripartite Committee are not adopted.
    President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba gave the charge at a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.
    Comrade Wabba reiterated that any figure below N30,000 will not be accepted by the organised labour union.
    According to him, We wish to reiterate our position adopted at our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of 23rd October, 2018 that any figure below N30,000 will not
    be accepted by us. We call on our members to continue to mobilize in preparation for the commencement of an indefinite strike on the 6th of November, 2018, if by then necessary steps have not been taken to adopt the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee.
    Reacting to claims by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) that it can only pay N22,500 as the New Minimum Wage, Wabba noted that the Forum is not a negotiating body but a mere political organisation for the convenience of state governors.
    He explained that the organised labour’s demand was initially N66,500 but a compromised figure of N30,000 was arrived at the end of negotiations last year by the Tripartite partners that comprises of Government, Employers and Organized Labour.
    “The new minimum wage was a product of intense negotiations that lasted for almost one year”, Wabba added.
    The Labour Union therefore condemned the communique issued by the Nigeria Governors Forum on October the 30th stressing that it is an attempt to undermine the authority of President Muhammadu Buhari.