Tinubu should increase minimum wage — Labour minister, Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has charged the incoming government of the president-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu to review the current minimum wage.

Ngige told the incoming administration to discussing the current minimum wage in the country immediately after being inaugurated in May.

While granting a television interview, the minister said the next administration should increase the current N30,000 minimum wage by May 2024.

The minister also disclosed that the outgoing government of President Muhammadu Buhari approved the increase in the income for “hardcore civil servants”, effective January 1, 2023.

He said there would be an increase in a peculiar allowance for civil servants in regards to the current economic reality.

He said the money would assist civil servants cope with the challenges which come with the inflation, the growing cost of living, increase in transportation fare, electricity and housing bills.

“It is a tripartite negotiation involving public sector, private sector and state governments,” he said, adding that the minimum wage that went to the National Assembly then saw an increase from N18,000 to N30,000 though many states are yet to implement it.

Ngige said, “We entrenched in that bill or law that minimum wage will now have an automaticity of review every five years.

“So, from 2019 when it came into effect to 2024 will be five years but we also made a recommendation in our document which we submitted that the discussion, the negotiation should start one year from May 2024 when it supposed to kick-start.

“So, I’m envisaging that as from May 2023, the government will empanel the new minimum wage review committee for the nation.

“In my handover note which I am going to hand over to the transition committee and the next government, I am recommending that the discussions start anytime from May 2023.”