Buhari Finally Okays N30,000 New Minimum Wage

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – After months of suspense, sustained agitations and lengthy negotiations by the Labour Movement, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally assented to the new 30,000 minimum wage bill

The new minimum wage, which takes effect from Thursday, April 18, 2019, was signed into law by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, State House, Abuja.

The new National Minimum Wage Bill, approving N30,000 minimum monthly wage for Federal and State workers, was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly (NASS) before the lawmakers went on break for the recently-concluded 2019 general elections.

The new National Minimum Wage proposal was presented to the National Council of State (NCS) on January 22 before being transmitted to the National Assembly by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) after extensive deliberations and approval of the document.

Continuous delay in signing the new bill into law had the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) pleading with President Buhari to urgently append his signature and fulfill his promise before May 1 that is globally-acknowledged as Workers Day.

Speaking to State House correspondents on the Presidential assent, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said the National Assembly had on March 19, 2019, approved N30,000 as the new national minimum wage with a plea that the Federal Government expedite action on assent and its eventual implementation.

According to him, 
“This makes it compulsory for all employers of labour in Nigeria to pay their workers the sum of N30,000 and this excludes persons who are employing less than 25 workers; persons who work in a ship which sail out of jurisdiction; persons who are in other kinds of regulated employments are excepted by the Act.
”

“It also gives the workers the right if you are compelled by any circumstance to accept salary that is less than 30,000 for you to sue your employers to recover the balance.


“It authorises the minister of labour and any person nominated by the minister of labour or any person designated by the minister of labour in any ministry, department or agency to on your behalf take action in your name against such employer to recover the balance of wages.


“It also ensures and mandates the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the minister of labour to be the chief and principal enforcers of the provisions of this law; and this law applies to all agencies and persons and bodies throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, Senator Ita-Enang said

He further stated that; 
“The effective date is April 18, 2019 as Mr President has assented to; it has been assented to and it takes effect today except such other provision as are contained in the Act.”


The presidential aide said enforcement and the right to commence implementation of the provisions are of immediate effect, including such steps to be taken gradually under the provisions of the Act.


Senator Ita-Enang urged Nigerian workers to celebrate President Buhari and support his administration and policies., adding that the administration would as usual join Nigerian workers to celebrate this year’s Workers Day on May 1st.


‘’Mr President will celebrate Workers Day and this government will celebrate.
“This is Mr President action showing the love he has for Nigerian workers,’’ the Presidential aide said. – With agency reports