The Federal Government says President Muhammadu Buhari has not endorsed N30, 000 as the new National Minimum Wage.
Clarifying the President’s position, Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, said Buhari will study the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage before making his view known to Nigerians.
Mohammed made the clarification while addressing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), meeting on Wednesday which was presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Recall that the report of Tripartite Committee on the Review of the National Minimum Wage chaired by former Head of Service, Ama Pepple, was submitted to President Buhari on Tuesday with a recommendation of N30, 000 as new National Minimum Wage.
While receiving the Report, Buhari said the Federal Government “would soon transmit an Executive Bill (on National Minimum Wage) to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.
“Our plan is to transmit the Executive bill to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time. I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.’’
Following this comment, the Media went to town with the report that the president had endorsed the Committee’s recommendation of N30, 000 minimum wage and based on that, organised labour also cancelled it planned nationwide strike which had been scheduled to commence on November 6.
On Wednesday however, the Information minister said the president had only received the recommendations of the Ama Pepple’s Report, and he would consider it before making his views known to the public.
He said: “I think it was a recommendation. So, Mr President will consider it and would make his views known in due course.
“So, like I said recommendations have been made and Mr. President would get back to the committee after he has studied the recommendations.’’
It would be recalled that the Presidency had also frowned at the misinterpretation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s remarks when he received the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage from the committee’s chairman, Ama Pepple, on Tuesday.
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It said that the president did not endorse N30, 000 as proposed by committee as being reported by some sections of the media.
“But the president’s speech at the event was immediately made available to the media and nowhere indicated that the president endorsed N30,000 Minimum wage,’’ a presidential source maintained.
President Buhari had also expressed delight that the Amal Pepple committee had successfully completed its assignment in a peaceful and non-controversial manner.
“Let me use this opportunity to recognise the leadership of the organised labour and private sector as well as representatives of State and Federal Governments for all your hard work.
“The fact that we are here today, is a notable achievement.
“As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report.
“I, therefore, would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.”
The president, however, enjoined the leadership of the labour unions as well as the Nigerian workers to avoid being used as political weapons.
“May I therefore, enjoin workers and their leaders not to allow themselves to be used as political weapons,’’ he said.
