Eighteen days to the January 31 deadline given by Nigeria Labour Unions, the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has approved the constitution of a 14-man committee to negotiate the implementation of the new minimum wage for civil servants in the state.
In a press release issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Folashade Ayoade on Monday, the committee will be inaugurated at the Government House banquet hall in Lokoja on Thursday.
Dr. Folashade Ayoade will chair the committee while the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Communication Strategy, Hon Kingsley Fanwo will serve as secretary.
Other members of the committee are, Elder (Mrs.) Deborah Ogunmola, Head of Civil Service; Hon. Ibrahim Muhammed Sani (SAN), Special Adviser to the Governor of Legal Matters; Hon. Asiwaju Asiru Idris, Special Adviser on Finance, Budget and Economic Planning; Engr. Abubakar Ohere Sadiq, Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Hon. Momoh Jibrin, State Accountant-General; Hon. Okala Yakubu, State Auditor-General; Hon. Usman Ododo, Local Government Auditor-General; Comrade Akeji Yusuf, Chairman Joint Negotiating Council; Comrade Tade Adeyemi, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE); Comrade I.A Abubakar, Joint Negotiating Council; Comrade Thomas Ayodele, Nigeria Union of Teachers and Comrade Meliga Obaka, Association of Senior Civil Servants.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have admonished states that have not complied with the implementation of the N30,000 new National Minimum Wage to do so before January 31 deadline, to prevent industrial action.
In a statement signed by the President of TUC, Quadri Olaleye, last week Thursday, after a National Executive Meeting (NEC) in Lagos, confirmed that it has directed all state chapters to start the mobilisation of their members for strike ahead of January 31.
“As at now and by our record, only six states have signed and commenced implementation, 15 states are in the process of negotiation, while the rest are yet to commence negotiation.
“We want to assure them that this is not an empty threat. Labour will shut down any state that has not yet started the implementation or negotiation,” Mr Olaleye said after the NEC meeting.
