MINIMUM WAGE: Looking at Dec. 31st Deadline to States over Consequential Adjustment

Organised Labour in Nigeria is not taking lightly the December 31st, 2019 deadline issued to states to constitute and conclude the consequential adjustment on the new national minimum wage 

Although the Nigeria labour congress has not issued any statement from the one wishing Nigerians Merry Christmas

In his reaction however, the  Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating council, Labour team, Adeniji Abdulrafiu said via the telephone that Organised Labour always keeps to its words 

Abdulrafiu said it is disheartening that only less than forty percent of states have complied with the  directive to enable workers begin to enjoy the new wage

The JPSNC Chairman advised state Government to treat the issue of adjusting the National Minimum wage as top priority ahead of the new year and as most of them are preparing and presenting their 2020 budget

Meanwhile, Ait gathered  that about 20 states have reduced their 2020 Budget by a cumulative of over seven hundred billion naira, despite expectations to implement a new wage of thirty thousand naira

Organised labour had asked states councils to adopt for negotiations the template approved at the federal level 

In the agreement, workers on salary Grade Level 07 will receive 23.2 per cent pay rise; those on GL 08, 20 per cent; and GL 09 to get 19 per cent.

Others are  Officers on GLs 10 to 14 to receive 16 per cent hike and those on levels 15 to 17  to get 14 per cent upward review. 

With the consolidated salary structures of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, the federal monthly wage bill will be approximately  six hundred and eleven billion naira

Similarly, a directive has been given to ministries, agencies and departments to ensure that arrears of the new wage regime, from April when the Act came into effect, be cleared before the end of December, 2019.