The indecisive disposition of the Buhari administration to the implementation of a new national minimum wage is unacceptable. - NECA

Muhammadu Buhari

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) on Thursday, made it clear that the indecisive disposition of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to the implementation of a new national minimum wage was unacceptable.

NECA also described an industrial action in January next year, due to slow action in transmitting a bill to the National Assembly, as promised by President Buhari, as counter-productive and disruptive to businesses in the country.

The Director-General of NECA, Timothy Olawale, stated these in a statement issued in Lagos.

Olawale expressed concern that seven weeks after the report was submitted by a National Minimum Wage Committee inaugurated by the President, the government was still planning to subject the report to a review by another technical committee.

“Globally, there is a recognized and acceptable process of setting a National Minimum Wage as enshrined in the ILO Convention 131. This process had been adopted in previous National Minimum Wage setting in Nigeria and was meticulously applied by the National Minimum Wage Committee inaugurated by the President in December 2017.

“It was expected that following the submission of the National Minimum Wage Committee’s Report to the President on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, expedited action would be taken in transmitting a bill to the National Assembly as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari. This delay in the completion of the process had led to the proposed strike by labour, which is totally undesirable and should be avoided.”

“Businesses are at present encumbered by several challenges and any avoidable labour action at the beginning of the year or any time whatsoever would be counter-productive, disruptive and would not be welcomed,” Olawale said.