National minimum wage committee fixes March 7 for public hearing

The tripartite committee on the national minimum wage has called for stakeholders to participate in the proposal and implementation of a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

In a statement on Friday, the chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Ekpo Nta, said the committee would hold a public hearing on March 7.

The retired head of the civil service of the federation, Bukar Aji, is heading the committee, inaugurated by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The committee’s mandate is to consult all stakeholders on the issue of national minimum wage and consider it in the context of the dynamics of the national economy.

It is also to recommend a realistic and practical national minimum wage to the government to ensure that all stakeholders are included in its assignment.

According to Mr Nta, the committee has scheduled public hearings in the country’s six geo-political zones on March 7 at 10:00 a.m.

“The venue for North-East will be Banquet Hall, Government House, Yola, Adamawa State; North-West Africa House, Government House, Kano; and South-South will be Ibom Hall, IBB Way, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

“For North-Central, it will be held at the Chida Hotel Event Centre, Plot 224, Solomon Lar Way, Utako, Abuja, while that of South-East Enugu and South-West – Lagos will be announced in due time.

“We invite the state and local governments, labour unions, employers of labour, civil society groups, small and medium enterprises and other stakeholders in the six geo-political zones to attend,” Mr Nta said.

The chairman urged the stakeholders to present a memorandum that should include the proposed new national minimum wage for workers.

“It should contain a proposed coverage in terms of the number of employees engaged by any agency and the area of economic activity to be excluded, if any.

“It should contain proposals on how to enhance and sustain high productivity in public and private sectors of the economy to sustain the recommendations.

“It should include frequency and mechanism of future reviews and proposed penalties for contravening the National Minimum Wage Act by individuals or corporate bodies.

“Other recommendations connected with the subject matter considered relevant and critical will be welcomed,’’ he said.