>
The Federal Government has said it will take a decision on the new minimum wage for workers before the February 2019 elections.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige said this on Friday when he, alongside the Chairman of the National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee, Amma Pepple, addressed State House correspondents on the outcome of their closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ngige said the Buhari administration was a labour-friendly one and will put smiles on the faces of Nigerian workers before 2019 elections.
His statement comes just as the labour groups in the country are threatening an indistrial action following the reported suspension of activities of the minimum wage committee.
READ: NLC, TUC, ULC, threaten industrial action as FG suspends work on new minimum wage
The minister said the meeting of the Economic Management Team, scheduled for September 18 is solely to discuss the new minimum wage.
His words: “Next week, we have an economic management team meeting on Tuesday, specially dedicated to the issue of national minimum wage to be chaired by the vice-president.
“For anybody to say that this government is stalling or playing games will be uncharitable because we have done what we are supposed to do.
“We have the interest of workers at heart; we have not retrenched anybody; there is no embargo on employment, there is no embargo on promotions; we are paying backlog of promotional arrears.
“So, this government is a labour-friendly government and we must put smiles on their faces before the next elections.