FEC approves constitution of 29-member committee on minimum wage

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the constitution of a minimum wage committee charged with the responsibility of negotiating with labour unions a new minimum wage for the country.

The approval was given at the meeting of the body of ministers chaired by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.

  Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, briefed journalists after the meeting.

Ngige said that the Federal Government will nominate five members of the 29-member committee, as part of the agreement reached at the meeting.

The minister added  that the Nigerian Governors Forum, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the organised private sector, Trade Union Congress and the Nigerian Labour Congress would also be part of the committee.

 He said that  minimum wage is a constitutional matter, which should of necessity encompass all stakeholders  in the discussions.

 “The matter needs to be thrashed out by all stakeholders because already, employers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association have rejected the N56,000 minimum wage proposal,” he said.

The tripartite committee will be chaired by a seasoned technocrat appointed by the Federal Government, which will also nominate five of the members, while six state governors will also be members.