On January 30, the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would establish the Minimum Wage Committee.
The committee’s recommendation will establish a new minimum wage for the nation.
On May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu eliminated the fuel subsidy. As a way to lessen the impact of this decision, the Federal Government agreed to give N35,000 to each of its employees.
The N35,000, according to organized labor, is only a temporary fix, and a revision of the minimum wage is required in 2024.
In addition, the N30,000 minimum salary that is in place now will disappear at the end of March 2024.
In January 2024, organized labor had voiced worries about the FG’s inability to establish the new national minimum wage committee on several occasions.
The 37-member committee will be led by former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Bukar Aji, according to a statement released on Sunday by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
He pointed out that representatives from organized labor, the corporate sector, and state government were among the committee’s members.
Additional members include Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Dr. Yemi Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Dr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, Permanent Secretary, GSO. OSGF; and Ekpo Nta, Esq., Chairman/CEO, NSIWC – Member/Secretary. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State, Labour and Employment, representing the Minister of Labour and Employment.
The North Central region is represented on the committee by Mohammed Bago, the Governor of Niger State; the North East region is represented by Sen. Bala Mohammed; the North West region is represented by Umar Dikko Radda; the South East region is represented by Prof. Charles Soludo, the Governor of Anambra State; the South West region is represented by Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State; and the South-South region is represented by Otu Bassey, the Governor of Cross River State.
Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General, NECA; Mr. Chuma Nwankwo; Mr. Thompson Akpabio; and Asiwaju Michael Olawale-Cole, National President; Ahmed Rabiu, National Vice President; and Chief Humphrey Ngonadi, National Life President are members of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture.
Theophilus Nnorom Okwuchukwu, a representative of the private sector, Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai, director of human resources at Nigerian Breweries, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director general of MAN, and Lady Ada Chukwudozie, managing director of Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited are the members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima, president and chairman of the council, and Dr. Muhammad Nura Bello, zonal vice president, North West, are the members of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, President; Emmanuel Ugboaja; Prince Adeyanju Adewale; Ambali Akeem Olatunji; Benjamin Anthony; and Prof. Theophilus Ndukuba are among the organized labor leaders.
Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria; Tommy Etim Okon, Deputy President I; Jimoh Oyibo, Deputy President II; Nuhu Toro, Secretary-General; and Hafusatu Shuaib, Chairperson Women Comm. are members of the TUC that completes the list.