The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has signaled its intent to advocate for the inclusion of punitive measures against governors and local government administrators who fail to implement the new minimum wage, according to Hakeem Ambali, the National Treasurer of the NLC.
In an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, Ambali attributed the reluctance of state governors to comply with the current minimum wage to the absence of punitive provisions in the Minimum Wage Act of 2019.
This revelation comes amidst preparations for the forthcoming meeting of the 37-member committee established by the Federal Government to deliberate on proposals submitted by various sub-committees across the country.
The committee, inaugurated on January 30, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu through his Vice-president, Kashim Shettima, comprises representatives from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organized labor. Its primary mandate is to recommend a new national minimum wage for Nigeria.
Ambali emphasized the need for internal clauses within the proposed minimum wage bill to compel governors to adhere to the new wage structure. He highlighted the involvement of some governors in the negotiation process and underscored the importance of labor’s responsiveness in ensuring compliance.
Additionally, Ambali outlined proposed measures in the bill, including sanctions and increased allocations to local governments, aimed at eliminating excuses for non-payment of the approved minimum wage.
Meanwhile, the 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage is set to convene this week to deliberate on stakeholder proposals and finalize recommendations. An executive bill is expected to be forwarded to the National Assembly to amend the current Minimum Wage Act, with the new wage intended to mitigate the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.
During public hearings, different regions proposed varying amounts for the minimum wage, with the South-West suggesting N794,000, the North-East proposing N560,000, the North-West suggesting N485,000, the North-Central proposing N709,000, the South-South demanding N850,000, and the South-East demanding N540,000.
