President Muhammadu Buhari, Wednesday, said Federal Government will go into negotiations for salary review for all the workers already earning above the new minimum wage.
This is as Buhari appointed Bismarck Rewane as head of the newly inaugurated Technical Advisory Committee on the implementation of new National Minimum Wage.
Speaking at the inauguration of the technical committee at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa Abuja, the President said after passage of the new minimum wage into law, government will negotiate with workers for salary review for all the workers already earning above the new minimum wage.
He said it was important to properly prepare the minds of those involved so that they will not be taken unaware when the time comes.
Noting that 2011 was the last time Nigeria’s national minimum wage was reviewed, it was evident that a review was necessary despite the prevailing fiscal challenges.
He said: “This is why I constituted the Tripartite Committee of Government, Organized Private Sector and Labour to consider the National Minimum Wage and make recommendations to Government for its upward review.
“That Committee has since submitted its report with some recommendations. We are currently working on the final steps that will lead to the submission of a National Minimum Wage Amendment Bill to the National Assembly.
“I want to make it clear that there is no question about whether the National Minimum Wage will be reviewed upwards. I am committed to a review of the Minimum Wage.
“Also, it is important to explain that even though the subject of a National Minimum Wage is in the Exclusive Legislative List, we have been meeting with the State Governors because it is imperative that the Federal Government carries the State Governments along in determining any upward review of the minimum wage for workers.
“This is especially necessary considering the prevailing public sector revenue challenges, which have made it extremely difficult for some of the governments to pay workers as and when due.
“As you know we, at the Federal level, have made adequate provision for the increase in the Minimum Wage in our 2019 Budget proposals which we submitted to the National Assembly. Therefore, we will be able to meet the additional costs that will be incurred in moving up all personnel who are currently earning below the new minimum wage.
“However, we anticipate that after the new minimum wage has been passed into law we will be going into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who are already earning above the new minimum wage. It is therefore important that we are properly prepared to meet these demands.
“We must therefore look at ways of implementing these consequential wage adjustments in a manner that does not have adverse effects on our national development plans, as laid out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). The ERGP sets appropriate targets for levels of Capital Expenditure, Public Debt, Inflation, Employment, etc. It is absolutely important that the implementation of a new minimum wage does not adversely affect these targets, and thereby erode the envisaged gains for the workers.
“It is against this background that I have set up a Technical Committee to advise Government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs that will arise from the implementation of the consequential increases in salaries and allowances for workers currently earning above the new minimum wage.”
He explained that the inaugurated technical committee will be chaired by an economist and financial expert, Mr. Bismarck Rewane with other experienced members who are experienced economists and administrators from the private sector working together with all the relevant officials of government.
The President enumerated terms of reference for the committee which include to develop, and advise government on how to successfully bring about a smooth implementation of impending wage increases and identify new revenue sources, as well as areas of existing expenditure from where some savings could be made in order to fund the wage increases without adversely impacting the nation’s development goals as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
Others are to “propose a work plan and modalities for the implementation of the salary increases, any other suggestions that will assist in the implementation of this, and future wage increases.
“Given the urgency of this exercise, the Committee is expected to complete its deliberations and submit its report and recommendations within one month today.
“It is now my pleasure to formally inaugurate the Technical Advisory Committee on the Implementation of an Increase in the National Minimum Wage.”
Others on board are Dr Babatunde Fowler, former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, ex-FIRS boss, Dr Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer and Prof. Akpan Ekpo.
From the public sector are: Dr Babatunde Fowler, Chairman FIRS; Ben Akabueze, Director General of Budget Office who is also the secretary of the committee, representative of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Richard Egbule, Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission; Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office of the Head of Service of the Federation; Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary, General Service Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance; Olajide Odewale, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Budget and National Planning; Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour; and Mr. Dayo Apata, Solicitor-General Of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice.
Others are Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Office of the Vice President; Dr. Joseph Nnanna, Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic Policy; Ahmed Idris, Accountant-General of the Federation; Ms. Patience Oniaga, Director- General, Debt Management Office; Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith, Director-General, National Institute of Social and Economic Research; Dr. Yemi Kale, Statistician-General, National Bureau of Statistics, Mrs. Aisha Hamad, Mamman Garba and Tunde Lawal.
The committee has a month to complete and summit its report.
The inauguration took place shortly before the commencement of the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for the year.
This is coming a day after the government and organised Labour – agreed to forward the new National Minimum Wage Bill to the National Assembly on or before January 23.
The organised labour, had in December 2018, rejected any attempt by the Federal Government to set up another committee on the national minimum wage, describing any such plan as diversionary and delay tactics.
President Buhari, had during the budget proposal presentation, promised a new minimum wage which he said will help maintain jobs for the teaming unemployed.
He had also promised to set up a special committee to look into the current fiasco concerning the minimum wage and come up with ideas of reducing debt and yet, increasing the minimum wage.
“We have included the implementation for the National Minimum Wage. I will be sending a Bill to this National Assembly, on this.
“To avoid a system crisis on the Federal Government and states, it is important to device ways to ensure that its implementation does not lead to an increase in the level of borrowing.
“I am accordingly setting up a high-powered technical committee to advise on ways of funding an increase in the minimum wage and attendant wage adjustments without having to resort to additional borrowing.
“The work of the committee will be the basis of finance bill which will be submitted to the National Assembly alongside the minimum wage bill.”
The Amal Pepple National Minimum Wage Committee submitted its report on November 6, 2018.
