The Federal Government, on Sunday, unveiled a 37-man tripartite committee to look into the implementation of the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
The committee, led by a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Aji, has six governors among its members.
They are Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State, representing the North Central; Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, representing the North-East; Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, representing the North-West; Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, representing the South-East; Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, representing the South-West; and Governor Otu Bassey of Cross River State, representing the South-South.
The committee also has the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Budget Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. (Mrs) Yemi Esan.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday.
Akume disclosed this in a letter addressed to Ambali Olatunji of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The letter dated January 23, 2024, was titled ‘Inauguration Of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage.’
It read: “I write to inform you that Mr. President has approved the inauguration of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage.
“The inauguration will take place on Tuesday, 30th January 2024 at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, State House, Abuja at 12 noon prompt.
“Members are to be seated by 11.30 am. Kindly note that a shuttle bus will be available at the pilot gate to convey members to the venue from 10.00 am.”
For a new minimum wage to be implemented, a tripartite committee is often set up by the Federal Government to ensure smooth negotiations.
The one set up by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 was headed by the then Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Ama Pepple.
The committee also had as some of its members, representatives of organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, alongside officials of government and the private sector.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the President Bola Tinubu administration in the 2024 budget proposed the sum of N1tn to cater for minimum wage adjustment and other expenses. Though the amount would later be streamlined, government officials insisted that the minimum wage should align with the current standard of living in the country.
The abrupt removal of fuel subsidy by Tinubu on May 29, 2023, led to an unprecedented hike in the cost of living and there have been calls for an increase in the minimum wage by organised labour.
As a temporary measure, the government approved the sum of N35,000 monthly as a wage award for workers pending the time when the new minimum wage will commence in April, according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris.
