The National body of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) has tasked the Bismarck Rewane Technical Advisory Committee, recently inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari, on the N30,000 national minimum wage.
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In a letter Addressed to Rewane, the Chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee, on Minimum Wage, the union advised him to ensure that all the previous committee reports be adopted quickly, so as to present positions that will aid the passage of the Minimum Wage Bill.
Besides, FOBTOB reminded him that the minimum wage is the benchmark salary for both the Private and Public Sectors, hence the organized labour has jointly pursued the cause with a religious zeal.
The Union, in the letter signed by FOBTOB President, Quadri Olaleye, lamented the delay and slow pace in the implementation of the new minimum wage.
Olaleye said: “We are not happy with the slow pace at which the implementation is going, considering the rate of inflation that has moved to double digits which is a pointer to the fact that the value of Naira has depreciated to the extent that Nigerian workers cannot afford the essentials of life.
“In view of the above, it is our hope that you will use your new appointment to strengthen our relationship with the government while looking forward to a quick signing into law of the Minimum Wage Bill by the President.”
While congratulating Rewane for his appointment, he added: “Nevertheless, our congratulatory message would not be complete without reiterating the fact that it is necessary for your committee to take note, that the essence of governance is to make life better for the citizens and we believe that an upward review of the National Minimum Wage of Eighteen Thousand Naira (N18,000.00) as requested by the organized labour will go a long way to reduced the untold hardship presently facing Nigerian Workers.
“Mr. Chairman Sir, you would agree with me that the current Minimum wage of Eighteen Thousand Naira (N18,000.00) cannot meet the needs of an average Nigerian worker and the fact that some State Government are still owing backlog of salaries and other allowances has further pauperized the affected workers.”
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