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Tag: minimum wage

  • New minimum wage will take effect this year, NLC assures Nigerian workers

    New minimum wage will take effect this year, NLC assures Nigerian workers

    Peter Ozo-Esan, General Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has assured Nigerians workers of the payment of the reviewed minimum wage before the end of 2018.

    Mr Ozo-Esan gave this assurance in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to him, in spite of the delay caused by the Sallah break, the tripartite committee involved with the review of the wage will conclude its work on September 4 and 5.

    “We believe that the initial expectation that by September a new minimum wage should come on board, we think that the government still should be able to deliver that to Nigerians.

    “Nigerian workers will continue to demand that from the government and as soon as this report is submitted government should do the needful before the National Assembly, because that is the process.

    “We expect that the National Assembly will play its part in speedily considering the bill that will be placed before it and do everything possible for Nigerian workers to have a new minimum wage.’’

    On the concerns raised by state governors, Mr Ozo-Esan stressed that it was not for them to determine what to pay, but that as employers they must comply with the minimum wage as approved by law.

    “Minimum wage is not fixed for government, it is fixed for employers across the economy whether government or private employer, the law will require you to pay the minimum wage.

    “What state governments want does not matter, because this is not a political matter; the minimum wage is the barest minimum that any worker must earn and no employer can go below that.’’ he added.

    The NLC secretary general stressed that state governments mismanaging their funds have no excuse not to pay salaries, adding that Nigerian must start demanding for dividends of democracy from their leaders.

    “We urge our members to get their voter cards and vote out governors who have shown incapacity to govern,” he added.

  • Minimum wage: New structure not feasible soonest – Ngige

    Minimum wage: New structure not feasible soonest – Ngige

    Chris Ngige, Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment has said the new minimum wage structure will not come into place any time soon.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Minister made this known while speaking with reporters in Anambra State.

    According to Ngige, State Governors are yet to submit their proposal on the new wage system and that without a proposal from the governors, there cannot be an agreement on a new wage structure.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had proposed a minimum wage of N56,000, but employers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association rejected the proposal.

    Ngige, the deputy chairman of the 30-man Tripartite Committee on the minimum wage set up by President Muhammadu Buhari last November said that although the Tripartite Commmitte would conclude its assignment this month, the delay by the governors to submit their proposal would halt the action.

    “I am the deputy chairman (of the committee); I drive it. We have a timetable and we will finish everything about it this end of August, but it is not attainable anymore because even in the committee we have not all finished dotting all the i’s and agreeing on a figure

    “We couldn’t agree on a figure because of two reasons, partly the state governors have not come up with a figure and the state governors are a critical constituent of this discussion. They have six governors in the committee, one from each geo-political zone

    “So the Governors Forum has not come up with their figure. They say they are still working on it. That was the last submission they made to us and the federal government team. We are working through the Economic management team.

    “The Economic management team dictates the economy of the country and they will now take whatever the governors say and fine-tune with that of the federal government, so that is where we are.

    “The national minimum wage tripartite committee is still at work, and is until it brings out its figures, brings out its recommendations pertaining to the national minimum wage. It is only after that that a Bill can be sent to the National Assembly for processing and be sent to Mr. President for assent and for it to become a National Minimum Wage Act,” he said.

     

  • FG gives update on new minimum wage

    FG gives update on new minimum wage

    Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has confirmed that the new wage structure will not come into place any time soon.

    According to Ngige, this is because State Governors are yet to submit their proposal on a new wage system.

    The Minister told reporters in Anambra State that without a proposal from the governors, there cannot be an agreement on a new wage structure.

    Ngige is the deputy chairman of the 30-man Tripartite Committee on the minimum wage set up by President Muhammadu Buhari last November.

    President Buhari, while inaugurating the panel, said the current wage structure had expired.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has proposed a minimum wage of N56,000, but employers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, have rejected the proposal.

    Ngige said although the Tripartite Commmitte would conclude its assignment this month, the delay by the governors to submit their proposal would halt the action.

    He said: “I am the deputy chairman (of the committee); I drive it. We have a timetable and we will finish everything about it this end of August, but it is not attainable anymore because even in the committee we have not all finished dotting all the i’s and agreeing on a figure

    “We couldn’t agree on a figure because of two reasons, partly the state governors have not come up with a figure and the state governors are a critical constituent of this discussion. They have six governors in the committee, one from each geo-political zone

    “So the Governors Forum has not come up with their figure. They say they are still working on it. That was the last submission they made to us and the federal government team. We are working through the Economic management team.

    “The Economic management team dictates the economy of the country and they will now take whatever the governors say and fine-tune with that of the federal government, so that is where we are.

    “The national minimum wage tripartite committee is still at work, and is until it brings out its figures, brings out its recommendations pertaining to the national minimum wage. It is only after that that a Bill can be sent to the National Assembly for processing and be sent to Mr. President for assent and for it to become a National Minimum Wage Act.”

  • Why can’t pay new minimum wage by September – FG

    A new national minimum wage will not materialize by the end of September as envisaged, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has said.

    The September date was just a date to conclude negotiation on minimum wage, Ngige said while speaking with journalists in Abuja yesterday.

    Outlining the work ahead Ngige said: “The committee on the new National Minimum wage is expected to conclude its work by the end of September and present its report to the government for deliberation and approval.” He also said it would be tabled the National Council of State before an executive bill is sent to the national Assembly on the issue.

    He pointed out that the capacity to pay by employers was also paramount in the deliberations on the minimum wage.

    He said it was for this reason that the committee embarked on zonal public hearing across the country in order to get the input of all those concerned including state governments and the organised private sector.

    It was in the course of the zonal public hearings that many state governments made different submissions ranging from N22, 000 to N58, 000 monthly from the current monthly wage of N18,000.

    The governors, he said, were also of the belief that for the new minimum wage to become effective, the current revenue allocation formula will have to be reviewed in favour of the states and local government.

    He said some other states are also of the view that the minimum wage should be maintained at the current N18, 000 in view of the inability of some states to pay the current wages.

    He said even though it was not an easy task, the committee was making progress in its assigned responsibility, pointing out that it was in order to carry everybody, including the states and private sector along, that six governors were elected to be members of the committee as well as representatives of the organised private sector.

    On the threat of non teaching staff of universities to resume their suspended strike as a result of government’s failure to honour the terms of their agreement, the Minister said government was sourcing the N6 billion needed to pay them their earned allowances as contained in the agreement.

    He said that about 95 percent of agreements currently being paraded by trade unions in the country were signed before the Buhari government came into office in 2015, adding that most of such agreements had no timeline for implementation.

    He also said many of the agreements signed by the last government were not implementable because of the amount involved.

    He said what is important in all collective bargaining agreement is the ability to pay what is being demanded and what is agreed upon.

    He appealed to striking health workers to return to work while negotiations continue on their demands. He added that the delay in the implementation of their signed agreement was as a result of failure of the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission to defend the two different figures presented to a government high powered committee.

    He said the committee had directed the commission and the Federal Ministry of Health to recompile the figures for onward submission to the committee for deliberation.

  • Workers lament as FG recants on September deadline for new minimum wage

    The Federal Government on Tuesday said the September deadline earlier stated for the implementation of the new minimum wage was no longer feasible as the date was fixed for conclusion of negotiations and not actual implementation as widely speculated.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige told newsmen at his residence in Abuja that the committee on the new National Minimum wage is expecting to conclude its work by the end of September and present its report to the government for deliberation and approval before an executive bill is sent to the National Assembly on the issue.

    He said however that the issue of capacity to pay is also paramount in the deliberations on the minimum wage, pointing out that it was to get the input of all those concerned including state governments and the organised private sector that the committee embarked on zonal public hearing across the country.

    The Minister said further that in the course of the zonal public hearings, many state governments made different submissions ranging from N22,000 monthly to N58,000,adding that the governors were also of the believe that foe the new minimum wage to become effective, the current revenue allocation formula will have to be reviewed in favour of the states and local government.

    He said further that some other states are also of the view that the minimum wage should be maintained at the current N18,000 in view of the inability of some states to pay the current wages.

    Senator Ngige said when the minimum wage committee concludes its report, it will be submitted to the National Council of State and the Federal Executive Council for approval before a bill is sent to the National Assembly to legalize the work of the committee.

    He said even though it was not an easy task, the committee was making progress in its assigned responsibility, pointing out that it was in other to carry everybody, including the states and private sector along that six governors were elected to be members of the committee as well as representatives of the organized private sector.

    On the threat non-teaching staff of universities to resume their suspended strike as a result of government failure to honour the terms of their agreement, the Minister said government was sourcing the N6 billion needed to pay them their earned allowances as contained in the agreement.

    He said his experience as Minister of Labour said him that majority of about 95 percent of agreement currently being paraded by trade unions in the country were signed before the Buhari government came into office in 2015, adding that most of such agreements had no timeline for implementation.

    He also said many of the agreement signed by the last government were not implementable because of the amount involved, adding that the principles of the International, Labour Organisation allowed employers to renegotiate agreements which they feel they cannot implement.

    He said further that what is important in all collective bargaining agreement is the ability to pay what is being demanded and what is agreed upon.

    He appealed to striking health workers to return to work while negotiations continue on their demands, pointing out that the delay in the implementation of their signed agreement was as a result of failure of the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission to defend the two different figure presented to a government high powered committee.

    He said the committee has directed the commission and the Federal Ministry of Health to go back and recompile the figures for onward submission to the committee for deliberation.

  • House ready to pass minimum wage bill, says Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday in Abuja, says the House is ready to pass the minimum wage bill as legislature awaits the executive to forward the bill for upward review.

    Dogara, in a statement to mark 2018 Worker’s Day celebration, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, reiterated the desire of the House to provide a better life for workers.

    The Speaker said he was not unmindful of the struggles and hardship faced by Nigerian workers in their daily lives.

    According to him, this is why the National Assembly is committed to putting more resources in the hands of workers.

    He expressed optimism that the Federal Government Committee on Minimum Wage currently conducting public hearings across the six geo-political zones in the country, would soon conclude its assignment.

    He said that a new national minimum wage bill would be transmitted to the parliament by the President.

    “On behalf of the entire members of the House of Representatives, I want to use this occasion to, once again, underscore the importance of workers to the growth and prosperity of our dear nation, Nigeria.

    “We see the struggles you go through to survive on wages that can barely last through the first week of the month. “We see your dedication to doing your bit in ensuring that Nigeria continues to run effectively in spite of unfavourable conditions.

    “We commend your courage, your commitment to service and nation building and urge you to continue supporting government policies and agenda.

    “I assure you, on this occasion, that the National Assembly will give expeditious passage to the Minimum Wage Bill whenever it is transmitted by the executive and any other initiative that will promote the welfare of the Nigerian worker.

    “We will support it wholeheartedly,” the Speaker said.

     

  • New minimum wage will determine Corps members’ allowance – DG

    New minimum wage will determine Corps members’ allowance – DG

    The Director General, of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Sulaiman Kazaure, says the increase in corps members monthly allowance would be determined by the new national minimum wage ”when it takes effect.”

    The official said this on Monday while fielding questions from journalists newsmen shortly after the swearing-in ceremony of the 2018 Batch ‘A’ corps members at the NYSC orientation camp in Kusalla, Karaye Local Government Area of Kano state.

    According to him, “our efforts to ensure that the monthly allowance of the corps members is increased have yielded a very good result following series of discussion with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige.”

    Mr Kazaure added that the N18,800 paid to them is grossly inadequate to cater for their needs during the mandatory one year service to the nation.

    The federal government had set-up a committee to look into the upward review of the minimum wage which he said will also determine the increase of the corps members’ allowance.

    “We have been assured that when the new minimum wage takes effect, also the corps members allowance will be reviewed upward,” Mr Kazaure assured.

    The NYSC DG also disclosed that 82,000 corps members were deployed nationwide for the 2018 Batch ‘A’ orientation course across various states except those with security challenges.

    In his remarks, the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, urged the corps members to shun all acts capable of denting the image of the scheme or which would sour their relationship with the camp officials.

    “You are to be guided by the sense of duty and discipline at all times, that would undoubtedly lead you to succeed in your entire life,” Mr Ganduje said.

    Earlier in his welcome address, the NYSC Coordinator in Kano, Ladan Baba said no fewer than 2,487 corps members were registered in the camp, comprising 1,289 males and 1,198 females.

    Mr Baba added that the corps members since the beginning of the three-week orientation had been adapting to the various activities in the camp and have behaved well.

  • Minimum Wage: Labour proposes N65,500 as committee holds nationwide public hearing

    Minimum Wage: Labour proposes N65,500 as committee holds nationwide public hearing

    The federal government’s Tripartite Committee on the new national minimum wage is to hold public hearing across the country, and gather inputs from stakeholders on a new minimum wage.

    Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said this while briefing journalists at the end of the Central Working Committee meeting on Wednesday, in Abuja.

    Mr Wabba said the zonal hearing was expected to be conducted in the six geopolitical zones, including Lagos and Abuja beginning from April 23, 2018.

    The public hearing is to consider memorandum from organised labour, governors and employers of labour.

    It was reported that the organised labour had recently presented a new demand of over N66,500 to the federal government.

    Mr Wabba, who confirmed the upward review of the demand of organised Labour, however, did not state the new figure presented to the tripartite committee for consideration.

    According to him, he will not be drawn to mentioning figures because it is not relevant at the moment, as the organized Labour is considering the current realities in the country.

    “As certain variables and current inflation in the country have made us to make an upward review of the demand.

    “The new submission from Labour is not different from the initial submission. We made a demand almost two years ago and that demand was the beginning of the process.

    “So, the demand of Labour was based on the agreement we had on the five year circle which we believe was due and also considering the level of inflation, we made a demand of N56,000’’ he said.

    He said that the committee after its constitution by President Muhammadu Buhari requested state governors, employers, private sector and organised Labour to resubmit their memoranda for discussion to commence.

    The NLC president said that in furtherance to the request, states, federal government, NECA and Labour had submitted their memos.

    “But what we did was to look at the dynamics of the times because the discussion will be evidence-based.

    “So, we undertook a study and made a submission. This is the logic and not that we have submitted a new position.

    “It was the same memo that we submitted, but what we did was to look at the indices, because a lot has changed between 2015 and 2018.

    “So that cannot be regarded as a change of position because the process of arriving at a minimum wage in line with convention 121 is evidence based.

    “Everybody submitting memo or document will have to back it up with logic and not just quote figures from the air,’’ he added.

    He, however, said that all variables needed to be looked at for discussions on the new minimum wage had been considered.

    “Clearly, what I want to inform you about is that we are committed to what we have,’’ Mr Wabba said.

    He added that the next Tripartite Committee meeting would be held on April 17, to discuss procedures for the public hearing.

     

  • New minimum wage to be announced in September – Ngige

    New minimum wage to be announced in September – Ngige

    The minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngigie, on Monday said the federal government would announce a new minimum wage in September of this year.

    He made this disclosure in Abuja during the ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    The minister appealed to workers for more time for the federal government to be able to ensure state governments would comply with the new wages.

    “Better late than never because some State governors are still owing and cannot pay the current N18,000 minimum wage to workers, that’s why we are ensuring we bring all stakeholders along and announce the new minimum wage at the appropriate time.

    “But I can assure you that the third quarter is the maximum time the new minimum wage will be announced,” he said.

    Meanwhile, in his address at the occasion, the president of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, vowed to take the fight to those who seek to delay the process for the announcement of the improved minimum wage.

    He said the current wage of N18,000 is no more enough to cater to the current economic realities. He said the value of the money has drastically reduced by such things as the rising cost of living and the free fall of the naira.

    “Let me use this medium to serve notice to those who seek to slow down and frustrate the process of review of the national minimum wage that they will be resisted in like manner as our predecessors did.

    “We are prepared to deal with employers especially governors who deny workers and pensioners their salaries and pensions. Workers and pensioners and their families will not give them any further political support, especially their support,” Wabba said.

  • No provision for minimum wage increment in 2018 budget – FG tells NLC

    The Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Ben Akabueze, says the 2018 budget, at present, cannot accommodate the minimum wage as proposed by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

    He said the Federal Government might go for a supplementary budget to implement the new minimum wage if approved by the law.

    Akabueze disclosed this at the Media and CSOs Dialogue on the 2018 budget on Wednesday in Abuja.

    “When an agreement is reached, the financial implication would be quantified and if need be, there would be a supplementary budget.

    “The only provision that exists is what we call public service wage adjustment, but that is barely over N40bn provided on that line, and that may not be enough to cater for any adjustments that may be necessary.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari, in November 2017, inaugurated a 30-man Tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee, calling on the members to come up with a fair and decent wage for Nigerian workers.

    Buhari said the re-negotiation of a new national minimum wage had become imperative because the existing minimum wage instrument had since expired.

    “We all know that the last minimum wage instrument has expired.

    “It is in recognition of the need to ensure a fair and decent living wage that the Federal Government put in motion necessary mechanisms so that we can, today, inaugurate this large committee with a big task ahead of you.

    “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.’’

    Buhari, at the time, said the measures to be adopted would cushion the envisaged painful effects of the increase on workers and the Nigerian populace at large.