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LABOUR leaders were upbeat on Wednesday that all issues pertaining to the new minimum wage implementation will soon be settled.
After Wednesday’s consultation with the government, a meeting on the new wage implementation has been slated for next Tuesday.
The meeting will hold 24 hours before the October 16 strike notice issued by Labour over the new wage.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, told reporters after holding separate meetings with Labour unions that an equitable implementation of the Consequential Adjustment of the minimum wage would be decided next week.
The minister met with members of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), led by its Secretary, Alade Lawal; The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) delegation, led by NLC Deputy President Amaechi Asogwuni.
At the meeting were: Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; Minister of State for Finance, Budget and Planning, Clement Agba; Minister of State, Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Head of Service of the Federation Mrs. Folashade Yemi- Esan.
Also at the meeting were: Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, Acting Chairman, National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta and Accountant-General of the Federation Ahmed Idris.
The main agenda was the disagreement on consequential adjustment for workers in public service.
Labour is demanding 24 per cent increase for workers on Grade Levels 15-17 and 29 per cent for workers on levels 7-14. But, government has offered 6.5 per cent for workers on levels 15-17 and 11 per cent for workers on levels 8-14.
In a statement on Wednesday, Labour and Employment Ministry’s spokesman, Charles Akpan, said the consultative meeting was called to resolve the impasse over the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage.
The statement reads: “While the meeting with the Labour commenced by 11:30 and ended 2pm, that with the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council is still on-going.
“It was resolved, however, that each group would hold further meetings to sort out all outstanding disagreements before a high level conclusive meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 15th October 2019.
“This will pave the way for an equitable implementation of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage.”
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