Increase in Minimum Wage Likely.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government, on Wednesday agreed to set up a 16 man committee that will work out the new minimum wage as well as palliatives that will soften the effects of the increase in the pump price of fuel.

The federal government announced Mohammed Buba as the chairman of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and also agreed with the labour union to set up mini wage committee, thus meeting some of the demands made by NLC.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, disclosed the development after a meeting with the Ayuba Wabba-led faction og the NLC.

The SGF noted that the President has approved the setting up of a minimum wage committee and the appointment of Buba.

Lawal said: “This (Wednesday) evening, I’m proud to announce that, first of all, a 16-man committee has been set up as a technical committee. It’s half from the labour side and half from the government side to discuss issues concerning the minimum wage…

“The minimum wage involves almost every segment of the society, so it’s not just the Federal Government and workers alone, but all stakeholders, the local governments, the private sector. So, this technical committee will discuss the modalities on how this issue would be brought forward.

“Secondly, we have agreed that the 16-man committee will look at the issues of implementation and allocation of resources of that palliative, the half a trillion naira palliative. The committee is supposed to work and bring its report to the committee of the whole within two weeks of its inauguration.” Source: Ynaija

Opinion: This was expected from any reasonable government. There is no way you can increase the fuel prices without correspondent increases in wages, otherwise workers would not survive the hardships. The primary purpose of every government is welfare and security of the citizens and not punishment and misery.