'We'll speedily implement new minimum wage,' President assures workers

Buhari'We'll speedily implement new minimum wage,' President assures workers

Buhari said he is aware that the economic recession in the country has huge implication for the seamless conduct of industrial relations.

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President Muhammadu Buhari 

(AFP/File)

The Federal Government has assured Nigerian workers of  speedy passage of the new National Minimum Wage.

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the assurance in Abuja on Monday, May 1, in a message to workers to mark the 2017 May Day.

This year's event was themed "Labour Relations in Economic Recession: An Appraisal."

Buhari said, "I am happy to inform you that Government will give expeditious consideration to the proposal contained in the Technical Committee’s Report which was submitted to it on April 6, 2017.

"Government will take necessary steps to implement the final recommendation of the Main Government/Labour Committee as it relates to the setting up the new National Minimum Wage Committee and the needed palliatives.

"This is in order to reduce the discomfort currently being experienced by the Nigerian working class.

"I want to assure you that government will continue to do all at its disposal to better the lots of all Nigerians and more importantly to provide a commensurate welfare for all Nigerian workers."

The President said he is aware that the economic recession in the country has huge implication for the seamless conduct of industrial relations.

He noted that this arises from the fact that the economic recession by its nature was characterised by a substantial risk of the "vicious circles of low productivity."

The President listed the effect as mass retrenchment of workers and closure of work places due to high cost of doing business.

He added that unregulated subcontracting and outsourcing with its consequences on welfare of workers are among these challenges.

According to him, in the face of these inevitable crises, workers have shown maturity and understanding.

"I strongly salute your great sense of patriotism and loyalty to the country," he said.

Buhari, however, called on government, workers and employers to work together to pull out the economy from recession.

"Therefore, I called on the organised labour to continue to partner with this administration by resorting to social dialogue as an indispensable tool for conflict resolution

"Today, we stand in solitary with workers all over the world to commemorate this historic Day which marked a turning point in the economies of the nations and the welfare of  the working class," he added.

He also commended the organised labour  for their support and encouragement to the administration’s fight against corruption.

He said, "My commitment to fight against corruption is total and irreversible. We must fight corruption before it destroys us.

"As a matter of fact, the workers should be in the forefront of activities in the realisation of the WhistleBlowing Policy of this Administration."

The President called for support and cooperation while adding that government is determined to restore growth.