Latest Updates on N30,000 minimum wage – Finace Minister

The Federal Government has increased the monthly allowance of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to N30,000.

Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference where she added that the total sum of N649.434 billion was verified by the ministry as the outstanding balance to be refunded to the state governments.”

She, however, noted that the Federal Government is still working out modalities before the implementation of the new allowance for corps members.

She said, “The other aspect that should be clear is that there is an increase for the NYSC as well because NYSC, by its Act, is designed that they earn the minimum wage.”

“So, NYSC allowance also has to increase to N30, 000. So, I cannot give you projections right now because the negotiations are not yet concluded.”

FG to inaugurate implementation committee

The Federal Government of Nigeria will on this coming Tuesday inaugurate the N30,000 new national minimum wage implementation committee, close to one month after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill into law.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige said this while fielding questions on television concerning the time for payment of the new wage.

Ngige did not state when the government would start payment but said that arrears would be paid anytime implementation of the new wage began.

He said there were still processes and procedures the new wage would undergo before the commencement of its implementation, even though it had been passed and signed into law.

His words;

“It is a whole process and the salary and wages commission will do its job before implementation,” he said.

He also said that the committee was made of seven ministers with the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita as Chairman.

The minister said that those at the lowest cadre of employment whether in the public or private sector would earn N30,000 as the law provided.

He said however for the cadre of workers already earning above the minimum wage, there would be a consequential adjustment from the top.

Ngige added that the relevant agency of government would soon issue a circular on the expected adjustments.

Meanwhile, Mr Ayuba Wabba, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has expressed worry over the delay in the commencement of the implementation of the new wage.

(NAN)