BUHARI ASSURE WORKERS N30, 000 AS MINIUMUM WAGE

 

 The Federal Government says it will fully implement the N30,000 new minimum wage for 

workers in the country. President Muhammadu Buhari gave the assurance while addressing 

workers at the 2019 May Day celebration on Wednesday in Abuja.



The 2019 May Day theme is ‘’Another 100 Years of Struggle for Jobs, Dignity and Social 

Justice in Nigeria.’’
Buhari, represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said that the Federal 

Government was committed to the cause of improving the lot of every working Nigerian.

“In this regard, the New National Minimum Wage which I signed into law a few days 

ago shall be fully implemented by my administration. “Let me once again express

 my deepest appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian Workers for the 

understanding showed during and after the negotiations of the New National Minimum Wage. 

“We shall continue to provide the enabling environment, higher productivity, 

industrial peace and harmony as well as congenial atmosphere for effective 

collective bargaining amongst trade unions and employers, protecting fundamental 

rights and other lawful rights at work. “At the just concluded General Elections, 

Nigerians and indeed Nigerian Workers gave my Administration another 

mandate to govern them. 

“We shall reciprocate this electoral gesture, by focusing on the critical issues that 

will speedily improve the quality of lives and livelihoods of Nigerians. “These 

include the building of infrastructure roads, and rail, reforming key driving 

sectors of the national economy in order to put the country on a sustainable path

 of economic growth and prosperity,’’ he said. He added that government was

 committed to changing the narrative in the power sector. 

“Today that sector after it was privatised still remains challenged in delivering 

power to many Nigerian homes and businesses. “We must as a matter of National

importance rework and re-engineer the sector for much more effective performance.
“Workers shall be called upon to play greater roles in supporting the Government to 

attain these goals,‘’ he said. Buhari also said that industrial peace was central to economic 

stability, adding that every industrial disruption costs the national economy dearly in

 term of money and man hours. He, therefore, urged all actors in the industrial relations 

system to be more circumspect, patriotic and ethical in the use of industrial actions as

 tools for resolving workplace crisis and addressing grievances. He, however, said the

Centenary Celebration of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) was of

 significance to Nigeria. 

“It is of utmost importance for me to state here that the ILO had over the years 

supported the country in the development and Implementation of Labour related 

Policies, Action Plans and programmes to tackle Child Labour, Forced Labour, 

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. “Recently ILO also collaborated with 

Nigeria in her affirmation as a member of Pathfinder countries on the elimination

 of Child Labour, Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

“Pathfinder Countries are pioneer Countries of Alliance 8.7 who have decided 

to pull resources together and channel same towards the achievement of Target 

8.7 of Sustainable Development Goals. We shall ask and request the ILO to 

support further,‘’ he said. The President said that the government would continue 

to leverage on these collaborations to further strengthen the labour institutions, 

update labour legislation and policies in line with international best practices. 

He also said that the government would continue to foster stronger ties among the social partners in the forthcoming years. 

“I am also convinced that the careful selection of the theme is a reflection 

of our collective commitment to job creation, protection of workers’ dignity 

and promoting social justice in the country as espoused in various provisions 

of the Constitution. “Therefore, today’s event should provide us the opportunity 

to reflect on our fidelity to these great principles. “Our Administration is firmly 

committed to these principles. On assumption of office in 2015, in spite of the 

daunting economic challenges which confronted us at the time, we ensured that 

no worker was retrenched,‘’ he added. (NAN)