Minimum wage: Labour spits fire as FG announces new date to start N70,000 payment

• The Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for Civil Servants, led by Didi Walson-Jack, convened on September 20, 2024, to discuss the new minimum wage structure
• Payments of the new minimum wage will be backdated to July 29, 2024, and the previously discontinued wage award will be reinstated until July 28, 2024
• In reaction, the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have criticized the government's decision, arguing that it contradicts its earlier commitments

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

The Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for Civil Servants met on Friday, September 20, as regards the new minimum wage template.

NLC, TUC faults Tinubu's government over implementation of N70,000 minimum wage. Photo credit: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria Labour Congress HQ
Source: Facebook

The Committee, headed by Didi Walson-Jack, the Head of the Federation's civil service, said payments of the N70,000 new minimum wage will be backdated to July 29, 2024.

The Committee also recommended that the wage award, which was discontinued should be paid until 28 July 2024.

This is according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) issued at the end of the meeting in Abuja on Friday.

They also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government took note of the economic situation in the country before it took its decisions.

Labour fumes as FG backdates payment of N70k minimum wage to July

Speaking with The Punch on Saturday, September 21, the Head of Information of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Benson Upah, faulted the decision of the government, describing it as unacceptable.

“The backdating to July is not fair. It is not acceptable,” he said.

Also, the National Vice President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Timmy Etim, criticised the government’s move.

He said since the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, had told workers on May Day that the new minimum wage would take effect in May, it was unfair for the government to renege on the promise.

"The Minister of State for Labour, during the May Day, said that the payment of the new national minimum wage would take effect from May 1st. I am surprised if they have changed and I don’t know the parameter they used for the change. But it will be unfair for the government to do that taking cognizance of the socio economic challenges."

Read more about new minimum wage here:

• Minimum wage: FG warns private sector against paying below N70k
• Pensioners urge organised labour to renew N250,000 minimum wage demand
• Why Tinubu govt may increase fuel to N5,000, NLC speaks

NLC: “Petrol price has rendered N70k minimum wage useless”

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Nigeria Labour Congress expressed regret for accepting the N70,000 minimum wage

At a recent event in Lagos state, Joe Ajaero lamented that the N70,000 wage has been rendered useless as petrol prices skyrocket and economic hardship persists

The NLC president also lamented that Tinubu betrayed organised labour by increasing fuel prices immediately after signing the new minimum wage bill into law

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Source: Legit.ng