Nigerian Workers Ecstatic As Buhari Moves To Increase Minimunm Wage

Millions of Nigerian workers were abosolutely ecstatic yesterday over the new N30,000 appoved minimum wage.

“I am fully committed to having a new national Minimum Wage Act in the very near future,” President Muhammadu Buhari said.

He was receiving the report of the committee set up to resolve the wage problem.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba led the way in hailing the presentation of the N30,000 minimum wage recomendation report to Buhari.

He said payment of the new wage might be difficult at the beginning of implementation, but “if there is the will, we are certain that there will be a way out.”

He told reporters at the Villa after the Tripartite Commttee submitted its report to the President: “When the N18,000 was actually implemented in 2011, most of the states emptied their treasury. They had difficulty.”

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director-General Muda Yusuf said although the private sector was paying above the current minimum wage, “there may be different challenges for the SMEs as they may adopt different models for engagement. Rather than keep all the staff, they may rationalise them by inviting only those that they need at a particular time. The big corporations have nothing to worry about as they are already paying the minimum wage.”

He praised the government for working successfully with the private sector and labour to arrive at an acceptable figure and averting a strike.

Workers were jubilating over the new wage. In Kano, Ibadan and Abakaliki, they were delighted at the approval of the new pay.

A cross section of the workers who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan said the successful meeting of the tripartite committee was appreciated.

Mr Peter Ojelakin, of the National Population Commission (NPC) said a good welfare package was the wish of every civil servant, adding that a dedicated worker would not have interest in embarking on a strike.

“So, the suspension of the strike that supposed to begin today is a good development,” he said.

Mr Rasheed Abdulwahab was happy over the agreement labour reached with the government but noted that increase in wages, might lead to inflation, a development he said called for an improved economy.

He, however, called on workers to justify the salary increase by putting in their best to ensure the desired improvement in the social and economic development of the country.

Mr Lekan Dojutelegan, a surveyor at the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, hailed the government for shifting ground on its earlier proposed N24, 000.

Dojutelegan urged civil servants to be more diligent and committed to their duties, saying that optimum performance would enable the government to pay the new minimum wage with ease.

Kano State NLC Chairman Kabiru Ado Minjibir, praised the national leaderships of NLC, TUC and ULC, “for standing firm on the decision of the Central Working Committee and their resilience to protect the interest of Nigerian workers, especially at this trying period.”