By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
ABUJA: The Federal Government has assured Nigerian workers that it will ensure full implementation of the new National Minimum Wage of N30,000.
Making this known on Wednesday in Abuja, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who spoke to workers at the 2019 May Day celebration, said that the new National Minimum Wage shall be fully implemented by the current administration
He appreciated the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress for their understanding during and after the negotiations of the new National Minimum Wage.
“We shall continue to provide the enabling environment to have productivity for industrial peace and harmony as well as a conducive atmosphere for effective collective bargaining amongst trade union and employers while also protecting the fundamental rights and other lawful rights of citizens”, he noted.
He further stated that the government will use its second term to focus on the critical issues that will improve speedily the lives and livelihood of Nigerians by building infrastructure, roads, rail and reforming key sectors of the economy.
He called upon the workers to support the government to attain all of its goals, adding that industrial peace is central to economic stability and urged all actors to be more circumspect, patriotic and ethical in the use of industrial actions as tools for resolving work place crises and addressing grievances.
Osinbajo, commended the resilience, tenacity, sacrifice and commitment of the workers in standing up against every form of exploitation, unfair labour practices and social injustice and solicited for the support of the workers, to enable the government build a country where the young people will be gainfully employed and assured of the protection of their fundamental human right
Earlier, the President, Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said that the campaign for a new National Minimum Wage of N30,000 is a major milestone in the struggle of the Congress.
He remarked that there is no better May Day gift as the N30,000 new National Minimum Wage.
In his words, “The two chambers of the National Assembly passed the National Minimum Wage (2019) Amendment bill in the first quarter of 2019. President Muhammadu Buhari gave his assent to the bill on 18th April, 2019.
“We commend the National Assembly and Mr. President for acceding to our demand for an increase in the national minimum wage, however, delayed”, he stated.
Wabba, urged all employers of labour to commence payment of the new national minimum wage immediately.
The theme of this Year’s Workers Day Celebration is “Another 100 Years of Struggle For Jobs, Dignity and Social Justice in Nigeria”.
