FG speaks on talks to implement new national minimum wage

macfranc007 May 01, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Kess Ewubare

- Chris Ngige, the minister of labour and employment, says the Buhari government places a lot of premium on the welfare of workers and all citizenry

- He calls for the continuous support for the success of the current administration

- The secretary of the FCT council of NUJ, Rafat Salami, describes non-payment of salaries as a threat to the survival of democracy

The federal government has said the ongoing effort to give effect to a new national minimum wage is evidence that the current administration is committed to the upliftment of the workforce.

Chris Ngige, the minister of labour and employment, said this in a statement signed by Samuel Olowookere, director of press in the ministry to mark the 2018 workers’ day celebration.

The minister pledged that the government was commitment to enhance workers’ welfare and prosperity for all citizens in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ngige said that workers should use the occasion to reminisce on the positive outcomes of the labour’s struggle for a better working conditions and decent work environment.

According to him, this is an administration that places a lot of premium on the welfare of workers and all citizenry and has done so in very transparent manner.

“Our openness is to provide enough window for all Nigerians to appreciate the state of the nation and the efforts of the government.

“Our modest achievement in creating equable condition for job security and improved welfare for workers.

“This is as evident in the fact that no Federal civil or public servant has lost his or her job in the last three years of the administration despite economic downturn.

“This is as well as the ongoing effort to give effect to a new national minimum wage easily bear out Federal Government’s commitment to the upliftment of the workforce.

“This year’s celebration therefore presents an opportunity for a collective reflection on the contributions of the labour movement to national growth.

“We should also reflect on the steadfastness of the Buhari administration to the welfare of workers on the other,‘’ he said.

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He, however, called for the continuous support for the success of administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the cardinal objective of the present administration was the revival of the economy; enhancement of the security of the nation and zero tolerance for corruption.

“The Federal Government has so far covered a considerable millage notwithstanding teething challenges.

“I therefore solicit your continued support towards bringing these national goals to fruition,’’ he added.

He further assured all workers of better days ahead.

Meanwhile, the secretary of the FCT council of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Rafat Salami, has called on the federal government to declare state of emergency on the media industry in order to check the maltreatment of journalists.

She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, April 30, in Abuja.

Salami, who participated in the recent convention of the Muslim media practitioners of Nigeria, described the non-payment of salaries by most media owners as unfortunate.

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