Labour, FG fail to reach consensus on minimum wage

The tripartite committee set up by the federal government to come up with a new  minimum wage for workers settled for two figures to be submitted to the executive and national assembly on Monday night.

Ama Pepple, chairman of the committee and former head of service of the federation, told reporters that after almost seven hours of the meeting, the committee resolved to submit the N24,000 proposed by the federal government and N30,000 insisted by labour unions, for consideration.

She said the committee is waiting for government’s decision on the report, disclosing that the meeting would reconvene by 10pm.

She said the committee appealed to labour leaders not to go on strike and they have agreed to consult their members.

Chris Ngige, minister of labour, said the two figures will be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Asked what would become of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum proposal of N22,500, Ngige said the governors will go with the federal government’s figure.

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, was the first to leave the venue of the meeting, with the promise to return.

Next to leave was Atiku Bagudu, governor or Kebbi state, who avoided speaking with reporters.

Representatives of labour unions walked out of the venue of the meeting around 8pm and promised that they will be back at 10pm.