Minimum Wage: Buhari Didn’t Mention Any Figure, Says Presidency

The presidency Thursday in Abuja said President Muhammadu Buhari
did not mention any figure while receiving the report of the
Tripartite Committee of the National Minimum Wage Committee
submitted to him by its Chairman, Ama Pepple, in the State House on
Tuesday.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said reports that the president had
reneged on his earlier acceptance of N30,000 minimum wage as
recommended by the committee had been of concern to the
presidency.

Adesina also described as unnecessary, the brewing controversy
over the N30,000 minimum wage proposal as he recalled the
president’s comment during the meeting, reiterating that until the
report and recommendation of the committee are reviewed by the
executive and legislative process on the new minimum wage
concluded, nobody can attribute any claim to the president.

However, the statement added that the president would follow due
process on the new minimum wage, insisting that the current
controversy amounts to putting the cart before the horse.

He also accused members of the opposition of playing politics
with the minimum wage, threatening that judgment awaits them at the
forthcoming polls.

The statement read: “The Presidency is concerned over recurring
reports alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari has reneged on
earlier acceptance of the N30,000 recommended as the new National
Minimum Wage by the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee.

“These reports are contrary to what transpired on Tuesday when
the committee presented its Report to the President. Responding,
President Buhari, while acknowledging the concerns raised by
government on affordability and labour’s focus on meaningful
increase, stated clearly in a speech, which was made available to
the media: ‘In a way, both arguments are valid. I want to assure
you all that we will immediately put in place the necessary
machinery that will close out these open areas.

‘Our plan is to transmit an Executive Bill to the National
Assembly for passage within the shortest possible time. I am fully
committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very
near future.

‘As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission,
we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas
presented in this report. I, therefore, would like to ask for your
patience and understanding in the coming weeks.’

“From the above, and throughout the report-submission ceremony,
the President never mentioned any figure. What he committed himself
to was a new minimum wage, and only after the Report of the
committee has been reviewed by the executive and legislative
processes of government and an appropriate bill presented to him
for assent.

“Until the proposed minimum wage has gone through the whole
gamut of law-making, President Buhari, who is a stickler for due
process, will not be caught in this unnecessary web of controversy,
which amounts to putting the cart before the horse and
hair-splitting.

“As for those who have latched onto the concocted controversy to
play cheap politics, we appeal to them to remember that elections
are not won through loquaciousness, and trying to demean the
President at every drop of a hat. But then, it is not surprising,
as they have nothing else to sell to Nigerians, if they don’t ride
on the name of the President. Stiff judgment awaits them at the
polls.”