The Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. has agreed to a wide range of issues in relation to the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state which include the immediate implementation of all the outstanding promotions of civil servants in the state.
The agreement and approval reached was at a meeting held with the organised labour and all its affiliates on Monday in Lafia.
Krestnews reports that the Governor’s decision followed a request by the leadership of the unions that all outstanding promotions from 2018 to date be implemented before the payment of the new minimum wage of N70,000.
Speaking at the meeting, the Governor said he decided to call for the meeting because the state government had concluded plans to begin the implementation of the new minimum wage this August with three months arrears.
“I have promised the people of the state that we will pay the new minimum wage when it was finally agreed and signed into law.
“I believe that we will be able to work out a template and pay the arrears of May, June, and July, while August will take off with the new wage.
“That is my plan, wish, and commitment up till this moment, but I am willing to implement whatever we agreed here today,” Sule added.
The Governor also said that he had made commitment to the union, more than two months ago that he would implement all outstanding promotions.
He directed the Accountant General of the state to commence the implementation of the outstanding promotions from August with one month arrears of July since that is the union’s preference for now.
The Governor also agreed with the suggestion of the organised labour on the implementation of new salary by setting up a minimum wage implementation committee that would commence work once the template is ready.
“The committee will wait for the template from the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) before negotiation with the union will begin in the state, since that is what you want,” Sule added.
Speaking, Comr. Ismaila Okoh, State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) who spoke on behalf of the Organized Labour, appreciated the Governor for all he has been doing for workers in the past five years of his administration.
The NLC Chairman also commended the Governor for his good intentions to implement the new minimum wage but, said that the workers want their promotions to be implemented first.
“Moreso, we are still expecting the template for the implementation of the new minimum wage from NSIWC before a committee of the union and the government will discuss it in line with the collective bargaining process.
“The implementation of the outstanding promotions should come first and then that of the minimum wage will follow after we must have received the template from Abuja,” he concluded.