THERE are strong indications that Nigerian workers may begin to enjoy a new minimum wage from early next year, as the Federal Government assured the workers on Thursday that it would answer their demand for a living wage, which the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other trade unions in the country have put at N52,200. Speaking at the fifth National Labour Relations Summit of the Michael Imoudu National Institute of Labour Study (MINILS), Ilorin yesterday, the Minister of Labour, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, said the Federal Government would answer the request of labour over minimum wage through the Justice Alfa Belgore Committee set up by the government to look into the issue.
Already, the minister said the committee had reached the concluding stage of its work, adding that it had also been sub-divided into sub-committees to look at the critical issues involved. Asked when the implementation would commence, Prince Kayode said it would be 2010, as 2009 was already coming to an end.
He said when the committee concluded its work and submitted the report, President Umaru Yar’Adua would approve it as he did not play with labour matters, especially their welfare.
The minister said the government would not only provide living wage for the workers, but would also create and provide jobs. “We expect that the Justice Belgore-led committee will be able to submit its report early next year. But as I said, labour is actively involved. In fact, it is a bit embarrassing if labour is now asking me about it, because they are the people doing it,” he said.
Also, the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, at another event, corroborated the labour minister when he disclosed that salaries of low income earners in the civil service would be looked into. Oronsanye said this at a public sector/civil society rally in Abuja, to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day.
According to him, “that is not to say nothing would be done on the low salary earners. The disparity between the salaries of permanent secretaries and other low cadre would soon be worked upon.”
Speaking through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Goke Adegoroye, he, however, noted that poor salary did not translate into corruption, adding that “it has been discovered that some of those who earn fat pay are also very corrupt.”
Speaking at the same occasion, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, said with civil servants as the nexus between the leaders and the followers, they had a role to play in attempts to curb corruption.
She urged civil servants to be more committed and always exhibit honesty, probity, delivery of selfless service and the fear of God. Mrs. Waziri decried a situation where a few individual cornered the resources of the nation for their personal use, while the majority lived in poverty, a situation which, she said, would no longer be acceptable.
In his remark, national vice-president, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Mr. John Emmanuel, advocated a network where people could make reports against wrongdoers without fear of intimidation. He said there were instances where life had been made horrible for those who made attempts to report corruption.