Mohammed Shosanya
President Bola Tinubu has asked for more time to consult further and widely with all relevant stakeholders concerning his decision on the national minimum waon the subject matter.
Tinubu stepped down the memo when it came up for deliberations at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, pleading that there was a need to consult more, especially with the Local Government Areas, States before the Federal Government can come up with appropriate figures.
The government and organised Labour had been engulfed in a battle of wit over what should be paid as minimum wage across workers in the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris revealed this on Tuesday, while briefing State House Correspondents on some of the outcomes from the meeting.
He said the memo on new minimum wage was stepped down because the Federal Government thought it wise to consult with other stakeholders, especially as the new wage proposals affects the Local Government Areas, States and the Federal Government.
According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, “a lot of people have been asking me questions pertaining to whether the New Minimum Wage would come up for deliberations today at FEC, especially whether government was going to have a position on the new wage.
“Recall that there was a report from the tripartite committee, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, the Organised Private Sector and the government representatives, these three make up the tripartite committee that discussed on the new minimum wage. They have forwarded a report to the President which he has gone through.
“But consistent with the way it should be done, I want to inform Nigerians that FEC deliberated on that because the new national minimum wage is not just the decision of the Federal government.
“That memo was stepped down to enable Mr President consult further so that he can have an informed position on what to do. This decision was taken because it affects the States, LG and the Federal Government”
