No sooner than later that a 16 man technical committee for the review of minimum wage in the federation was inaugurated, some workers of the federal ministries have expressed doubt over the federal government sincerity in increasing workers wage bill in the federation, arguing that since inception of office of the present administration nothing had worked not even the electioneering campaign promises.
Some of the workers who spoke with The Newswriter at the federal secretariat, Rivers State on Port Harcourt-Aba Road, wondered if the proposed increase in wages would either be implemented in the obvious dwindling economy or review downwards.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal. has disclosed that the (Federal Government and the Ayuba Wabba-led faction of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has agreed to set up a 16 Man committee that will work out the new minimum wage for workers.
Speaking after a meeting between Labour and the Federal Government in Abuja, the SGF said the committee will also work on palliatives that will soften the effects of the recent hike in the pump price of fuel.
“This Wednesday evening, I’m proud to announce that, first of all, a 16 Man committee has been set up as a technical committee. It’s half from the labour side and half from the government side to discuss issues concerning the minimum wage.
“The minimum wage involves almost every segment of the society, so it’s not just the Federal Government and workers alone, but all stakeholders, the local governments, the private sector. So, this technical committee will discuss the modalities on how this issue would be brought forward.
“Secondly, we have agreed that the 16-man committee will look at the issues of implementation and allocation of resources of that palliative, the half a trillion naira palliative. The committee is supposed to work and bring its report to the committee of the whole within two weeks of its inauguration,” Lawal said. ###
James Mgboineme
