The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have called on workers and the general public to be patient as the federal and state governments work towards implementing the recently approved N70,000 minimum wage.
In an interview, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, Deputy President of the NLC Political Commission, emphasized that it would be unfair to accuse the government of deliberately delaying the wage increase.
He explained that the process involves complex calculations and adjustments that require time and collaboration between the government and labor unions.
President Bola Tinubu signed the new minimum wage into law on July 29th after meeting with NLC and TUC leaders. So far, only Lagos and Edo states have claimed to have started paying the new wage, while Adamawa state has also approved it.
However, Ndubuaku noted that the implementation may face slight delays due to the processes involved. He expressed optimism that the necessary adjustments and calculations, which must be carried out by a designated committee with input from labor unions, will be completed by the end of August.
The NLC leader emphasized the importance of understanding that signing the wage bill is just one component of the implementation process.
He urged workers and the public to be patient as the government and labor unions work together to ensure a smooth and fair transition to the new minimum wage.
