The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has disclosed that state governors, who either don’t pay the old minimum wage or pay it in breaches, are among members of the new National Minimum Wage Committee.
The Informant247 had earlier reported that Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, inaugurated the 37-member panel at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.
The panel, with its membership cutting across federal and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour, is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country.
However, Ajaero, while commenting on the issue during an interview on Channels TV, said, “The day of the expiration of the last minimum wage is March. Ordinarily, we (the committee) have one month plus to work on. I pray that we work earnestly to actualise the aim within this one month.
“Our agreement with the federal government is to have a minimum wage committee where the body will discuss and agree on a portable minimum wage that will be more inclusive and address the needs of the workers in the present dispensation.
“However, from the composition of the minimum wage committee, especially the governors are those that are either not paying the current minimum wage or are paying it in breaches. I pray that they entered this with an open heart. Governors who are in full compliance with the previous minimum wage are not adequately represented in this committee.”