Tag: Minimum Wage

Categories
NEWS & LIFE

Minimum wage: What is in it for workers as negotiations begin?

It is no longer news that the take home of the average Nigerian worker can no longer take him or her home.

The purchasing power of workers in the country is seriously eroded by the high rate of inflation, and free fall of  Naira against foreign currencies, thus causing  hardship for workers and other citizens.

The N30,000 minimum wage which has been around for about five years now has been thoroughly diminished to the extent that workers now leave from hand to mouth.

The purchasing power of the average Nigerian worker is at all-time low, exacerbated by fuel subsidy removal which has tripled the cost of transportation and food items has not helped matters.

President Bola Tinubu says he is aware of workers predicament and in his New Year message, assured them that his administration would implement a new national minimum wage to ease their plight.

Tinubu said that this was to ensure that the government’s impact was felt by every Nigerian, with a specific focus on addressing the economic needs and well-being of the poor, vulnerable, and working-class citizens.

According to him, the economic aspirations and the material well-being of the poor, the most vulnerable and the working people shall not be neglected.

“It is in this spirit that we are going to implement a new national living wage for our industrious workers this New Year.

“It is not only good economics to do this, it is also a morally and politically correct thing to do,” he said.

In January, the president matched words with action with through the inauguration of 37-man tripartite committee on national minimum wage in line with the provision of Wage Instrument Act 2019 which stipulates review of the minimum wage at five years interval.

Headed by a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Aji, the committee’s membership is drawn from across federal and state governments, private sector employers and the organised labour

“Our sense of duty today thrives on both our sensitivity to the conditions of the Nigerian worker and the impending expiration of the last Minimum Wage Instrument in a few months.

“It is in recognition of the need to ensure a fair and decent living wage, and in compliance with the Act, that the Federal Government has set in motion necessary mechanisms to assemble this tripartite Committee to chart a future that aligns with our collective interests’’, he said.

Tinubu was represented at the event by his vice, Kashim Shettima.

As the newly inaugurated minimum wage committee swings into action Nigerian workers have expressed high hope the new minimum wage will be commiserate with the nation’s current economic realities.

Mrs Victoria Idoko, a worker, said that the increase in the pump price of petroleum and devaluation of the Naira had massively affected the cost of living.

According to her, the exchange rate and inflation has continued to raise all the time higher, rendering the N30, 000 national minimum wage is unsustainable as a basis.

“Government must acknowledge this fact that there is hardship and ensure that the committee comes up with a fair, realistic and decent living wage for the Nigerian workers,” she told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Also, Mr Charlie Johnson, a civil servant, said it was important for the committee to complete its deliberations at a reasonable time and submit its reports and recommendations as soon as possible.

This, Johnson said, would enable other requisite machinery to be set in motion for the implantation of the new national minimum wage.

“I want to urge the Federal Government, the committee on the new national minimum wage not to foot- drag on the deliberation processes as workers are suffering due to high cost of living,” he said.

A worker, Mr Gambo Haruna, urged organised that given to the current realities of the economic to negotiate above N200, 000  as a living wage.

According to Haruna, labour leaders should go into the deliberation well-prepared because workers expect their salaries to meet their needs.

“Fuel and food items are taking large chunk of the salaries of workers; the transportation is very costly.

“The federal government had earlier said that due to the removal of fuel subsidy it will make CNG buses available but up till now we are yet to see the buses.

“If the buses can be made available, the high cost of transportation will be brought to the barest minimum.

“This will go a long way in cushioning the effect of the challenges that Nigerian workers are going through,” he said.

Dr Tommy Okon, National President, Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria (ASCSN) said the informal economy was the worst hit by the economic challenges.

Okon, also a member of the Tripartite Committee, said organised labour would push for a living wage taken cognisance of the cost of transportation, accommodation, school fees, and health, among others.

“When the fuel subsidy was removed, labour was looking at N200, 000 as a minimum wage but as we speak, that has already been overtaken by the social economic challenges.

“These challenges include inflation and devaluation of naira so that amount is no longer attainable.

“We will negotiate as a team, I do not want to guess but these are indices that would form our submission and what we would be demanding as far as national minimum wage is concern,” another worker said.

Mr Olawale Oyerinde, Director-General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and a member of the committee on National Minimum Wage, representing the private sector said the deliberation would be with open mind.

Oyerinde said the private sector would deliberate with all commitment in order to have a seamless and a fruitful conclusion that would be favorable for all.

“We will ensure that it will be a win-win for employers, labour and the government.

“We will also ensure that we follow what the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 131 on Minimum Wage Fixing stipulated,” he said.

To this end workers urge their negotiators to consult widely before arriving at a figure that would truly compensate for their contributions to nation building

Categories
Uncategorized

ASUP urges FG, states to pay arrears of minimum wage

Eniola Olorundare

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has called on the Federal and some state governments to pay outstanding arrears of the minimum wage to its members as contained in the Memorandum of Action (MoA).

The union also frowned at the delays in the release of the approved N15 billion Revitalisation Fund, non payment of salaries to its members in some state owned institutions, and non commencement of the renegotiation of the 2010 agreement.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Abdullahi Yelwa, ASUP’s National Publicity Secretary, on Sunday in Bauchi.

Yelwa said that the decisions were reached during the 101st Regular ASUP National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State.

The statement read in parts: “ASUP equally expressed dismay at recent reports of infractions in the process of appointment of Principal Officers in Federal Polytechnics and some state-owned polytechnics in disregard to the provisions in the extant laws.

“The union particularly noted the events at the Federal Polytechnics, Ekowe, Offa and Mubi, where the process of appointment of Rectors were flawed, leading to the shortlisting of unqualified persons.

“The union notes that the council affairs in Federal Polytechnics, Oko, Offa, Auchi and Kaura Namoda has been relocated to the FCT without due consideration to the cost implication on the institutions, safety of staff and sensitive documents as well as general administration of the affected institutions.”

Yelwa, however, said that members of the public should hold government responsible in the event of breakdown of industrial harmony, adding that the union and its members had shown considerable patience and restraint.

“In view of the unsatisfactory status of implementation of the MoA signed between the union and government in April 2021.

“The union once again demand that the government should without further delay ensure the release of the arrears of the Minimum Wage to staff and release the approved Revitalisation Fund for the sector.

“Government should set up the implementation committee to administer the fund, recommence the renegotiation of the union’s 2010 agreement and withdraw institutional accreditation to state owned institutions where staff are owed salaries.

“The union equally urged the government to revisit the appointment processes for principal officers in Federal Polytechnics, Ekowe, Offa and Mubi, to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act,” it said.

According to Yelwa, the union will deepen its consultations on the next action as there will be no further warnings if the government failed to meet its demands.

Categories
HEADLINES NEWS & LIFE

10 states yet to pay minimum wage – Union

Ekiti organised labour rejects withdrawal of minimum wage
Minimum wage

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) on Thursday said that 10 states had yet to implement the National Minimum Wage signed into law on April 18, 2019.

The association’s National President, Dr Tommy Okon, made the disclosure at a forum organised for Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

Okon listed the states as Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Imo, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara.

According to him, some of the states have concluded negotiations, but had yet to implement.

“Anambra and Taraba have concluded negotiations, but have yet to implement; Bauchi, Benue, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kano and Zamfara are in the negotiation stage,” Okon said.

The labour leader said that negotiation had yet to start in Imo.

He urged the state governments to put the wellbeing of their workers into consideration.

The unionist called for further upward review of salaries.

According to him, that would help make state governors to know that delay in payment means accumulation of more debts.

He said that for industrial peace and harmony to reign, governments should not renege on agreements reached with the organised labour.

“Salaries are no longer to be negotiated,” he said.

Okon also called on the Federal Government to amend the 2014 Pension Act and expunge sections inimical to pensioners.

According to him, gratuity payment should be embedded in the Act.

“There should be a provision to spell out that this Act does not forbid payment of gratuity by employers.

“The law should not be silent on important matters that affect life; gratuity affects life, ” Okon said.

Categories
NEWS & LIFE

Ogun won’t slash salaries, reverse minimum wage — Abiodun

Ogun won’t slash salaries, reverse minimum wage — Abiodun
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Thursday assured that he would neither slash workers’ salaries nor reverse the recently signed minimum wage in the state inspite of the harsh economic realities in the country.

Abiodun gave the assurance in Abeokuta during the breaking of the fast (Iftar) with the leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abeokuta.

The governor stated that his administration would continue to be creative in its bid to make the state economically viable and financially strong to be able to perform its responsibilities to the citizens.

“ I was watching on television where I saw one of my brother governors say that his state might have to reverse on the minimum wage.

“We are very creative on the issue of financing and I want to assure you that Ogun will not reverse on minimum wage,” he said.

The governor also assured that the local government polls scheduled to hold on July 24 across the state would be free and fair to all.

“The election will not be skewed in favour of the rullng APC.

“We will not share political positions among men and women who are party faithfuls during the elections, but promote equal participation.

Plateau teachers decry non-implementation of new minimum wage

“We must be consistent and show that we have learnt from other people’s lessons and that are a product of democracy.

“We have done primaries when somebody else did not want primaries and subjected ourselves to the party process and we evolved through that process which was later confirmed by the general elections despite all odds.

“Let us make sure that whatever process we adopt is democratic. We must be seen as true progressive democrats.
“When it comes to a process like this, what we need to do is to encourage our members to come forward and participate.

“We will vote for them, but we are not going to share it and say because they are our members, they should take it on platter of gold.

“No, that will be undemocratic. We are not going to do that because it will be unfair,” he said.
Speaking on security, Abiodun disclosed that his administration would soon re-launch the OPMESA, which according to him, has recently been resuscitated after years of neglect by the immediate past administration.

He added that any act of insecurity would be viewed as a sabotage against its government’s plans to grow the economy of the state.
“We are taking the issue of security very seriously and be assured that we are doing everything humanly possible on this because Ogun is the industrial hub of Nigeria.

“Any act of insecurity is a sabotage against our plans to make our state very viable economically and we are going to fight it with everything at our disposal.
“OPMESA has gone for so many years because the previous administration did not take it very seriously, so, the federal government withdrew it.

“But I went after that initiative and I got the Chief of Army Staff to finally approve it because like I said to him, I don’t know of other states, but my state, I cannot afford insecurity,” he said.

While restating his administration’s commitment to make the state safe for the residents, Abiodun urged he people of the state to be prayerful and be observant of their environment, saying that “security agents are as good as the intelligence they gathered”.

Earlier in his remarks, the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in Ogun, Mr Yemi Sanusi, commended Abiodun for embarking on massive road rehabilitation and re-construction across the state.
He also lauded him for attracting more members into the party, particularly, bigwigs from other political parties.

Two former deputy governors of the state, Mr Segun Adesegun and Sen. Adegbenga Kaka, who also attended the event, commended the governor for his effort at making the state more attractive for investors.

Adewunmi Onanuga, a lawmaker, representing Remo Constituency at the House of Representatives, commended the governor for his developmental agenda in the state.

She, however, called on the governor to give women more opportunities to represent their people at the grassroots.

Categories
HEADLINES NEWS & LIFE

Minimum wage: Transfer to concurrent list won’t work – FG

USUN, PASAN strike to end soon-FG
Ngige

The Federal Government has assured workers that the transfer of the National Minimum Wage from the Executive to Concurrent list would not work.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, gave the hint at the 2021 May Day celebration, on Saturday in Abuja.

The theme of the May Day celebration is: “COVID-19, Social and Economic Crises; Challenges for Decent Work, Social Protection and Peoples Welfare”.

Ngige said that the new minimum wage was a national law, which would not be manipulated by anyone.

“A tripartite clause arrangement which coordinated the government enacting the national minimum wage on April 18, 2019, and the President in signing the law, made it clear that the law takes effect on that day.

“That law is a national law, it is not that which you can choose for anybody that falls within the ambit of that law. It is not a question of pick and choose.

”We moved the national minimum wage from 18,000 per month to 30,000; it is an irreducible clause and we need a social protection mechanism.

“We therefore expect the states and people in the private sector to comply. Amendment of trying to expand that law or trying to bring the law into the concurrent list of the institution will not work,” he said.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), had eariler said that any attempt to remove the national minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List was a mischievous effort to foster crisis, chaos and anarchy in the country.

Wabba said that the national minimum wage served as social protection by providing a mimimum income floors to safeguard low earners.

”Our argument for the retention of the national minimum wage on the exclusive legislative list is to also propel the fact that the minimum wage is a tool for social inclusion and proverty reduction,

“For Nigerian workers, it has been a catalogue of workplace and trade union rights violations.

”First is the criminal refusal by some state governors to pay the new national minimum wage and consequential increase in salaries, thus violating workers’ rights.

“We have already directed all our state councils to down tool if any governor remains adamant about paying the new national minimum wage,” he said.

The NLC president noted that the theme for this year’s celebration was apt, as Nigeria failed to protect its citizenry especially workers, from the daunting challenges occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic.

He noted that a recent research by Nigerian scholars said that the COVID-19 inspired lockdown threw an estimated 27 million Nigerians into poverty, ballooning the community of the working poor in Nigeria.

According to him, this revealed that workers are the major targets of the growing insecurity across the country.

The NLC boss further stated that in spite of efforts by government and private sector employers, millions of Nigerian workers had lost their means of livelihood and slipped into destitution, lack and misery.

Wabba added that the weakness of the social protection system further aggravated the pain and frustration of workers.

He noted that the recent unemployment statistics of 33.3 per cent as released by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), occasioned by the pandemic and arbitrary sack of workers by some state governors, had further driven the spate of insecurity being witnessed.

“Human insecurity as marked by mass unemployment is the main driver for the physical insecurity besieging our dear country.

“Part of the challenge of unemployment and insecurity is the crisis of poor governance. Weak budgets that led to poor appropriations and poorer budgetary oversight is the bane of our development.

“It is unfortunate and a terrible injustice to the memory of Nigeria’s founding fathers, that virtually every part of the country has been engulfed by one form of security challenge or the other,” he said.

Wabba, while however commending the efforts of the nation’s security apparatus, called for increased efforts and routing of security votes, through the normal budgetary process for proper oversight and accountability.

On casualisation of workers, he urged government and private employers of labour to end the slavery of workers by consolidating the milestones already gained in the current labour law review.

Wabba also said that Nigerian workers reject any further hike in electricity tariff, while calling for adjustments to the gas price for the power sector, suspension of gas price increases, for the next three years in order to support electricity tariff stability.

“It is clear that the factors fuelling incessant hike in electricity tariff such as the dollarisation of gas used by GENCOs to run our power stations are issues that government can control.

“As we speak, the promise by government to force DISCOs to mass deploy meters has been poorly pursued as pre-paid meters are still hoarded by DISCOs and sold at high price to frustrated consumers.

”It is on this premise that we say no to further increases in electricity tariff,” he said.

He also raised concerns over Nigeria’s high debt profile, saying that the bulk of the adverse implications of the unreasonable risks usually affects common Nigerians and workers the most.

Categories
POLITICS

Make N30,000 minimum wage profitable to workers, senator tasks FG

Make N30,000 minimum wage profitable to workers, senator tasks FG
Senator Bamidele

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman of the Southern Senators’ Forum on Saturday appealed to the Federal government to strengthen the nation’s economy and make the N30,000 minimum wage meaningful to Nigerian workers.

Bamidele, in a statement in Ado Ekiti said the current inflation had negatively affected every sector of the economy and rubbished the dividends inherent in the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said this in commemoration of the 2021 Workers’ Day.

PCC workers stage protest over over non-implementation of minimum wage
Minimum wage

He saluted the Nigerian workers for being steadfast in their patriotism to the nation, describing them as the engine room of the socio- economic and political sphere, occupying the middle class that works for the survival of the economy.

Bamidele urged them to be hopeful in the Nigeria project and make adequate contributions towards salvaging the country from current economic and security challenges.

He also condemned the spate of kidnapping of some Nigerian workers in many states of the federation while serving their fatherland, saying it was enough to dampen the workers’ morale.

“It is disturbing that most of these workers, who have been collecting peanuts as salaries and still bent on serving their fatherland have suffered several cases of kidnapping, killings and maiming in some sections of the country.

“The country has also lost many of its priceless civil servants in the war against Boko Haram in the North East of the country.

” Many died in the captivity of the murderous kidnappers and insurgents, while some are being held hostage as of now.

“For their sacrifices not to result to nothing, President Muhammadu Buhari and the 36 governors as well as other stakeholders must work on our economy and make it strong.

.” This had become necessary so that Nigerian workers, who are chiefly the bread winners of their families can dispense their responsibilities and reap the fruits of their labour.

“They should also work hard to combat any form monster rearing its head and posing dangers to any worker wherever they may be and work for the survival of this nation.

“I salute Nigerian workers for giving out so much energy for our nation to be productive and keep going.

“I wish them happy celebration and urge them to be courageous to withstand the current economic hardship and continually make the rightful sacrifices that can keep the country going until it berths at a successful destination,” Bamidele said.

Categories
NEWS & LIFE

New minimum wage increment to be reflected in old pension scheme— FG

Plateau teachers decry non-implementation of new minimum wage

The Federal Government has approved the adjustment in pensions of retirees under the defined benefit pension scheme arising from the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act 2019.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, Mr Ekpo Nta, Acting Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) said the approval would take effect from April 18, 2019.

The circular from the NSIWC on Thursday noted that pensioners who retired on Grade Level 17 on CONPSS would receive a new monthly pension of N188,688.49, representing a nine per cent increase.

Grade level 16 retirees would receive N154,576.39, while those on level 15 would get N123,964.72, both also representing a nine per cent increase.

The grade levels representing a 10 per cent increase are 14 with N92,194.53; 13 with N84110.56; 12 with 76,604.35; and 10 with N68,114.13.

Levels nine and eight are both with a twelve per cent increase representing N59,570.18 and 50,520.68 respectively.

For level seven, a 14 per cent increase is recorded representing N40,934.64 while level six is a 42 per cent increase representing N37,242.21.

Levels five to one recorded increases of 51 per cent, 55 per cent, 57 per cent, 58 per cent and 59 per cent, each level representing N32,49146, N29,179.14, N26.942.50, N25,239.45 and N23,426.17.

The difference in increment ranged from the highest which is N15,579.78 to the lowest of N8,692.83.

It further noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the consequential adjustment in pensions of retirees, under the defined benefit scheme consequent to the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2019.

It pointed out that agencies on the following salary structures would be affected.

They are Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS); Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS); Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS II); and Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS II).

Others are Consolidated Tertiary Educational Salary Structure (CONTEDISS); Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Salary Structure (CONPCASS); Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS); and Consolidated Medical Structure (CONMESS).

The rest are Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICSS); Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS); Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS); and Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS).

Nta said the review would not affect workers and pensioners on the contributory pension scheme and added that payments would be effected immediately.

“This review is addressing those on the old pension scheme which is the defined pension scheme.

“We would not have sent out the circular if we did not have the ability to look at the cost implications.

“When such decisions are arrived at, it is not done alone with the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission. It is done in collaboration with the budget office, the Pension Transition Administration Department (PTAD).

“It is the organisation responsible for everybody on the old pension scheme until the last person on the scheme passes on. It is a transitional arrangement set up by law.

“We have been anticipating this approval to come in and PTAD, that had always been in the picture, had made arrangements for the availability of funds and I can assure you, based on what we discussed with them, they are ready to go,” he said.

The acting chairman explained that the conditions of the contributory pension scheme were different from the defined scheme.

“The difference is the workers that are on the contributory scheme are contributing towards their pension in later years when they finally leave the service or retire.

“They have a portion they are contributing and the government is also contributing a percentage.

“The way it is arranged under this new pension scheme the worker can actually take out extra insurance to cover himself or herself and his or her family in arrangement with their Pension Fund Administrator.”

He advised that those agencies did not fall under the recognised consolidated salary structures to get in touch with the commission.

He also said the constitution stated that workers’ salaries be reviewed every five and earlier, if the federal government so decides.

Nta further encouraged Nigerians to regularly visit the websites of the NSIWC, PTAD and the Pensions Commission for accurate information.

Categories
INTERNATIONAL

New Zealand increases minimum wage

New Zealand increases minimum wage
New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern

New Zealand will from April 1, 2021, raise the national minimum wage to 14.26 U.S. dollars per hour, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, Michael Wood, said on Thursday.

According to the minister, as the country recovers and rebuilds from COVID-19, the government is committed to supporting New Zealanders by raising wages.

“There are many Kiwis who earn the minimum wage that has gone above and beyond in our fight against COVID.

”I think everyone agrees with those who served us so well during lockdown -including supermarket workers, cleaners, and security guards -they deserve a pay rise.

”This minimum wage increase will lift the incomes of around 175,500 New Zealanders, which means 44 New Zealand dollars more each weekly before tax for Kiwis working 40 hours a week on the minimum wage,” Wood said.

The rise in the minimum wage is estimated to boost wages across the economy by 216 million New Zealand dollars, giving New Zealanders more money to spend at local businesses.

”Increases to the minimum wage can also promote productivity, which is good for businesses too.

“Signalling the minimum wage increases over three years has helped give businesses much needed certainty,” the minister said.

The starting-out and training minimum wages will also rise to 16 New Zealand dollars per hour, to remain at 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage.

Categories
NEWS & LIFE

Kogi teachers demand for payment of minimum wage

Minimum Wage/Salary Arrears: NUT gives Bayelsa Govt. 14-day ultimatum
Minimum wage

A group, Basic Education Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (BESAN), has demanded for full implementation of the old N18,000 minimum wage for teachers in primary and junior secondary schools in Kogi.

The group’s demand was contained in an open letter sent to Gov. Yahaya Bello in Lokoja on Monday.
The letter, dated Nov. 25, said it was demanding for the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage to arrest the dwindling fortunes of basic education in the state.

BESAN, an umbrella body of teachers in primary and junior secondary schools in the state, said other civil servants had been enjoying the minimum wage, stressing that its demand was in the interest of fairness and justice.

The letter was signed by Messrs Onotu Yahaya and Tope Akintobi, the state Chairman and Secretary of BESAN respectively.

It also called for a stop to the payment of percentage salary to teachers in the basic education sector.

The group described the monthly payment of 35 per cent salary to its members from January till date as disheartening and an aberration in the history of education in the state.

According to it, the 35 per cent monthly salary payment also violates the governor’s earlier directive on 60 per cent monthly salary payment to teachers in the sector.

The teachers called on the governor to order the immediate payment of their outstanding salary arrears and allowances from January 2018 till date, including the balance of the underpayment of 60 per cent benchmark.

“Government should promote hard work and dedication to duty by rewarding and motivating the teachers through prompt payment of N18,000 minimum wage, leave allowances and promotion and annual salary incremental steps/rates with cash backing,” they said.

The group also called the attention of the governor to the problem of acute shortage of teachers in many primary and junior secondary schools in the state.

It said that the problem largely arose as a result of the staff screening exercise carried out by government in 2016 which, they said, had reduced the staff strength in the sector to 16,419 from 23,466.

While calling for the filling of the vacant teaching positions, they also demanded for infrastructure that would aid quality teaching and learning in the schools.

“Teachers should be given the needed opportunity to undergo in-service training and professional workshops to enhance their capability and efficiency,” the letter stated.

Categories
EDUCATION NEWS & LIFE

Zamfara govt receives report on N30,000 minimum wage

Minimum Wage/Salary Arrears: NUT gives Bayelsa Govt. 14-day ultimatum
Minimum wage

Zamfara Government on Tuesday received reports of the Minimum Wage Implementation Committee inaugurated in 2019.

The state government in 2019, inaugurated the 27-man committee, headed by a former Minister of Finance, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda.

Receiving the report, Gov. Bello Matawalle reiterated his administration’s determination to implement the new N30,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the state.

“I am commending the efforts made by members for their hard work and dedication to the success of the assignment given to them by the state government.

“As I said, workers’ welfare is one of the top priorities of my administration. I am giving the assurance to the entire civil servants in the state that the state would implement the N30,000 minimum wage for the benefits of our workers,” the governor said.

Describing civil servants as the bedrock of economic development, Matawalle said his administration was ready to give them their rights and privileges.

He, however, said that the state government would set up a mini- committee to review the report and look at the possible implementation of the recommendations of the committee.

He called on civil servants in the state to ensure dedication and punctuality to their service.

Earlier, the committee chairman had said that the committee was inaugurated by Matawalle in 2019, saying that it embarked on its assignment immediately after its inauguration.

“We made various consultations within and outside the state; our work was just delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We worked together with the leadership of labour unions in the state, particularly the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC),” Yuguda said.

He commended members of the committee for their support and cooperation.

“With your hard work, commitment and dedication, we are able to provide suitable recommendations for the benefit of civil servants in the state,” he said.