Minimum wage: Group urges labour unions to accept FG offer

THE Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has appealed to the labour unions to accept the N27,000 new National Minimum Wage recommended by the National Council of State.

The group gave this advice in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi.

“Our appeal to the Labour is to shift from its hard-line posture of not accepting anything less than N30, 000 even in the States and Local Governments.

“This stance of the labour will create more economic hardship for the nation and the workers; as the current price of crude oil upon which the current revenue of the nation largely depends is very low.

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“Rather than rejecting the offer, our labour unions should be realistic and patriotic to accept it and commend the Federal Government for being workers friendly,” Abdullahi said.

According to him, as the nation prepares for general elections in the next three weeks any strike by the Labour on minimum wage will surely be a disservice to the nation.

The national coordinator said the labour must shelve any plan to order strike for now in the interest of peace, stability and progress of the nation.

He said the group received with happiness the resolution of the Federal Executive Council and the Council of States Meetings convened by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“According to the official report, the Federal Government has approved the N30, 000 Minimum Wage demanded by the labour unions but granted states the option of paying nothing less than N27, 000.

“This is a good point to start from, bearing in mind the challenges faced by stakeholders when the negotiation on this matter began about a year ago.

“We must commend President Muhammadu Buhari for keeping to his promise of resolving this issue and keeping faith with his assurance of transmitting the Executive Bill to the National Assembly Jan. 23.”