- Tinubu vows three years review, promises to assist states, private sector
- Why we accepted N70, 000 minimum wage – NLC
- Reps to cut salaries by 50% for six months to fight hardship
- It’s a drop in the ocean, say Atiku, Shehu Sani
At last, the Federal Government and the Organised Labour have agreed on a new monthly minimum wage of N70, 000.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Thursday after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the Organised Labour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The new minimum wage when approved by the National Assembly will replace the N30, 000 minimum wage which expired on April 18, 2024
Also, corroborating the Information Minister, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said President Tinubu approved the N70, 000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with a promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.
Onanuga said Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the new minimum wage, including meeting the demands of university unions demanding four-month unpaid salaries.
Taking to his X handle (formerly Twitter) immediately after the President/Labour meeting on Thursday afternoon at the Aso Rock Villa, the presidential media aide further wrote, “President Tinubu announced the decisions at the meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, the second time the parties met in 7 days.
“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers to meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries.”
Why we accepted N70, 000 minimum wage – NLC
Also, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero on Thursday gave reasons why the Organised Labour accepted the proposal of N70, 000 minimum wage from the President, Bola Tinubu.
Ajaero, who spoke to State House reporters after the meeting with the President, said the unions agreed to the offer because of other incentives attached.
He said another reason for accepting the offer is because “the President promised a review every three years as against what obtained in the past.”
Reps to cut salaries by 50% for six months to fight hardship
In the same vein, members of the House of Representatives have resolved to slash their salaries by 50% as a way to support the Federal Government addressing the economic hardship in the country.
The House reached this resolution sequel to the adoption of a motion moved on the floor of the House by Ibrahim Isiaka (APC- Ogun State) during plenary in Abuja.
The salary cut is to last for six months and will amount to N 648 million
The lawmakers, however, appealed to Nigerians to exercise more patience with President Bola Tinubu’s led administration in addressing challenges and hardships faced by citizens.
The House further mandated its Committee on Appropriation, Humanitarian Affairs, Finance and Budget to ensure compliance.
High cost of foodstuffs and other commodities in the markets, across the country, have been on the rise, causing frustration among the citizenry.
The situation has already prompted calls for the youths to embark on a nation-wide protest.
It’s a drop in the ocean, say Atiku, Shehu Sani
A former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said the office running cost of the House of Representatives is the “real devil” and not salary.
Sani made the remark while commending the House of Representatives for slashing their salaries.
Posting on X, Sani wrote, “The Reps slashed their salaries. That is a good symbolic gesture. I commend them. But the real Devil is the office running cost and not the salary.”
Similarly, the 2023 People’s Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar likened the “sacrifice” of the lawmakers as a drop in the ocean.
Atiku said the demons are in the allowances and not salaries of the lawmakers.
He posted on X: “The sacrifice of members of the House of Representatives is commendable. But it is a drop in the ocean. The demons are in the allowances and not the salaries of lawmakers and government officials in general.
“Whatever happened to the much-trumpeted implementation of the Oronsaye Report? Recently, the ballooning of MDAs with the attendant cost implications has been observed.
“There’s too much wastage and prioritisation of non-essential expenditures. What is desirable is an across the board cut in expenses. We can no longer afford to borrow money to fund continued irresponsibility in government.”
