Fresh battle looms over arrears payment of New Minimum Wage
With the battle for a new minimum wage settled in most of the 36 states,workers are now shifting attention to the payment of the arrears of their remuneration.
The Nation reports, many of the states commenced payment of the new wage last month while some have promised to do so at the end of this month.
But Imo,Osun and Plateau state governments are yet to commit themselves on how much they are willing to pay and when they plan to start paying.
The Minimum Wage Act took effect from July following the signing of the bill by President Bola Tinubu on July 29.
Negotiation between government (Federal and States),organised labour and the private sector on the matter took some time and when it was all over,the state governors asked that they be given till the end of October to enable them put their finances in order
One of the states already preparing for negotiation of payment of arrears of the new wage is Katsina.
Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hussain Hamisu, told The Nation by phone that labour is scheduled to commence negotiations with the state government on the payment of arrears and on how retirees could benefit from the new salary structure.
The committee set up by the state government on the new minimum wage is about rounding off its assignment.
Hamisu said once the committee completes its assignment in another two weeks, negotiation on the arrears will begin.
‘’Retirees must equally be considered during negotiations, considering the fact that there was a circular on their benefits and entitlements at the time of their retirements,’’ he said.
The NLC boss said Katsina has a history of timely wage payments and taking care of the interest of workers.
The 15- member committee on the minimum wage was charged with the responsibility of advising the state government on strategy and modalities for the implementation of the new salary structure.
