MINIMUM WAGE: Nassarawa state gves 24-man committee 3 days as plateau denies earlier statement

The delay in constituting a minimum wage adjustment committee is throwing up drastic moves in some states

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has inaugurated a 24-man committed to workout the modalities for the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.

The committee has Emmanuel Akabe, Deputy Governor of the state as its Chairman, and 11 representatives from the government site and 13 members from the organised labour.

Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday in Lafia, the governor said that the committee was set up in fulfilment to the promised he had made to improve living conditions of workers through better welfare package.

“This is in line with our determination to improve the welfare of public servants as they are the cornerstone for the implementation of Government policies and programmes.

“We are always in the front burner on the issue of the implementation of the National minimum wage in the country and since the signing into law of the new law, we have continue to make consultation on how to implement it in the state,” he said.

He explained that It is in this connection that the was inaugurated to study the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, make necessary consultations and recommend to Government a workable template for implementation.

The governor charged the committee to be guided by the revenue accruals to the State vis-à-vis its ability to pay the Minimum Wage

He listed the terms of reference of the committee to includes; to obtain and study the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2009 and the Consequential Adjustments at the federal level.

Others are; to obtain and study copies of agreements reached between the Federal Government and the Organized Labour in line with the consequential adjustment/increase in all the salary structures.

To liaise with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (if necessary) for technical assistance on the implementation of the new minimum wage for the State.

Governor Sule therefore said that the committee has three (3) weeks to complete its assignment and submit Report to Government for prompt action.

The governor also assured workers the committee to consider the implementation of outstanding promotions, arrears and proper placements of the civil servants would be inaugurated on Monday January 13.

Meanwhile in an interview with newsmen after the inauguration, Com. Yusuf Iya, State’s Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), commended the governor for the steps so far.

He however expressed hope that the committee who he is a member would adopt the template used at the federal level in order ensure improved welfare package for workers in the state. (NAN).

Find plateau state press statement below

PRESS RELEASE 

The new minimum wage saga: 

I was quoted out of context – Manjang 

The attention of the Plateau State Government has been drawn to the news making the rounds in the social and conventional media that it was ready to implement the payment of the N30,000.00 minimum wage without recourse to negotiations on the consequential adjustments. 

This statement was purported to have been made by the Honourable Commissioner of Information and Communication, Dan Manjang. 

The commissioner has since clarified the statement saying he was quoted out of context. Reacting in a Press Release which was circulated to the media, Mr. Manjang denied the fact that he said that “there was no need for any negotiation with any group of persons before the implementation” having earlier said a committee to that effect had been put in place and negotiation was going on. That would amount to double-speak and serious contradiction. 

Mr. Manjang maintained that the state government has set up a committee to negotiate with labour about the consequential adjustments as directed by the Federal Government based on the peculiarity, sustainability and capacity of each state. He reiterated that government was committed to the welfare of its workers. Mr. Manjang appealed to workers and the unions to remain calm while negotiations are on and pending the recommendation of same. 

Signed:

Dan Manjang

Hon. Commissioner 

Information and communication

MINIMUM WAGE: Labour Upholds Threat, Issues 21 Days Strike Notice in Niger As Plateau Begins Talks

Organised Labour in Nigeria has started pulling through its threat not to guarantee industrial harmony in any state which continues to delay consequential adjustment of the National minimum wage

This is coming as the Niger State chapter of the Organized Labour has handed down a 21-day ultimatum to the state government to pay the N30,000 new minimum wage or face an indefinite strike. This was arrived at after it emergency state Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Minna on Friday. 

Labour said it was left with no option than to issue the ultimatum following government’s inability to adequately respond to the issues raised in an earlier letter. 

The labour in a letter, titled “notice of 21 days ultimatum of indefinite strike action” jointly signed by the state Chairman, Comrade Yakubu Garba, state Chairman Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Yunusa D. Tanimu pointed out that “the organized labour in the state has resolved to once more demand from the government the implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage, consequential adjustment and also payment of the accrued arrears before Monday, 4th February 2020. 

The Niger state government had said that its 2020 budget is based on the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage. 

The commissioners for Planning Alhaji Mamman Musa and that of Finance, Alhaji Zakari Abubakar while giving the breakdown of the budget in Minna recently said like other aspects of the budget the implementation will commence once the fiscal estimates is passed by the house of assembly and assented to by the governor

The commissioners declined to say exactly when the minimum wage payment will commence but said “…everything in the budget will be implemented in 2020.” 

They further submitted that the state will not have difficulty in paying the N30,000 minimum wage because they are already paying N22,500, and that what they need now is N7,500, which has been taken care of that in the budget

Meanwhile a story by NAN says the Plateau Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says it is still negotiating with the state government on the consequential adjustments of the N30,000 minimum wage.

Eugene Manji, the state NLC Chairman, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Jos.

The national secretariat of NLC had issued a December 31 ultimatum to state governments to implement the new minimum wage or face industrial action.

Mr Manji said series of meetings had been held with the government on the consequential adjustments but added that an agreement was yet to be reached on the template.

“We started negotiation with government on Dec. 30, 2019 and they made some offer on what they intended to pay.

“We went and studied the offer and reconvened on Dec. 31, 2019 and we rejected it.

“They asked the salary and wages department to come up with a new offer on Thursday and we are to meet again to look at it,” he said.

He said that outcome of the meeting would determine the NLC’s next line of action.

Mr Manji said that the national body of the NLC had been informed of the ongoing negotiation on the new minimum wage.