Wage - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Ismail Abdulaziz
Nov, Tue, 2024

Benue workers to get ₦75,000 as minimum wage

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By Peter Amine

Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue has approved a minimum wage of ₦75,000 for workers in the state.

Alia in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, announced the new wage after he met with the organised labour on Monday in Makurdi.

The governor said that the new minimum wage would take effect from November.

He stated that the remaining three months of the five-month backlog of salary arrears promised workers would be paid as budgeted in the 2024 budget.

He emphasised that the arrears would be paid along with the new minimum wage.

“We decided to set the wage at ₦75,000, fully aware of the other concerns raised by organised labour during the negotiations.

“These concerns included a minimum wage of N30,000, wage awards, transportation allowances, tax relief, and work-off days, among others.

“Recall that the President had approved the sum of N70,000, which we have decided to exceed, considering the concerns raised by organised labour regarding our ability to pay,” he said.

Alia restated his administration’s commitment to serve the common man and stressed that he would ensure that Benue workers were properly taken care of.

The governor added that his motivation to ensure the arrears were paid was to alleviate the effects of hardship on workers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Gabriel Yough

Ismail Abdulaziz
Nov, Fri, 2024

General News

FG lauds industrialist on minimum wage compliance

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By Chimezie Anaso

The Federal Government has commended Chief Akai Egwuonwu, an Anambra based industrialist, for complying with the new national minimum wage for his employees.

Mrs Benedene Oji-Ogbuehi, State Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour, presented the commendation letter to Egwuonwu in his Awka office on Thursday.

Egwuonwu is the Managing Director of Stine Rice Mill and Zara Departmental Stores among others.

Oji-Ogbuehi said the recognition was in appreciation of his efforts to enhance the welfare of his workers and to encourage others to follow suit.

She said that it was necessary to commend the industrialist for leading the way for other private sector players to comply with the new wage policy in Anambra.

“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Anambra commends you for being the first in the private sector to implement the new National Minimum Wage for your workers, despite the economic situation of Nigeria.”

She said apart from meeting the new minimum wage policy, the industrialist had demonstrated love for humanity by considering the wellbeing of his staff.

In his response, Egwuonwu said that increasing the wage of workers has become imperative given the increasing cost of living and falling purchasing power.

He said N70,000 was a far cry from what was needed to meet basic needs of the average worker in the current economy and called on businesses to give their workers minimum comfort.

Egwuonwu called in governments to provide better operating environment to enable businesses survive, assuring that the new wage would reach no fewer than 2,000 workers across his chain of companies.

“This was borne out of necessity, the N70,000 is actually not enough for anybody to live on in current Nigeria. A plate of food is N1,500, bag of rice is N92,000, they must look good and survive well. For them to meet these needs, I think the minimum should be N150,000 per month.

“Doing business in Nigeria today is not easy, we expect the government to provide enabling environment for us. We need cheaper energy, good roads, lesser price for fuel for cheaper transportation as well as tax holidays.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz