National Council of State approves N27,000 as new Minimum Wage, expresses satisfaction with INEC preparation for general election

President Muhammadu Buhari Buhari, on Tuesday, presided over a National Council of State meeting during which N27,000 was approved as new minimum wage for workers in the country.

According to Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, who along the Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige, briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, the resolutions of the council meeting also included approval of plans and preparations of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

With the Council’s approval now secured, a minimum wage bill will be sent to the National Assembly on Wednesday 22 January 2019.

Dr. Ngige, who made this known during the post-meeting press briefing, said the N27,000 is the minimum to be paid by any employer with minimum of 25 workers but explained that any state or employer of labour which can afford to pay more than the approved amount is at liberty to do so but must not be less than that.

The Minister said that the Federal Government, on its own pay package, will being paying its workers “nothing less than N30,000”.

Although there are exemptions, private and public organisations employing less than 25 workers are bounded by the N18,000 minimum wage.

The Council, however, set N27,000 as the new benchmark that any lowest paid worker (that is Grade Level 1 Step 1) would get.

Part of the highlights of the meeting was the briefing of the Council by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, about his plans and preparation for February and March national and state elections in the country.

Following the briefing the Council expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations of the INEC for the conduct of the general election.

The meeting was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Presidents, Heads of State including Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Abdulsalaam Abubakar, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Governors Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Muhammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger) and David Amahi (Ebonyi).

Others who attended Tuesday’s Council meeting were former Chief Justices of Nigeria including Justice Idris Uwais, as well as members of the President’s cabinet, it was gathered.

Governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu made the position of the Council known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting.

Akeredolu said that the endorsement of the INEC preparedness for the election followed a presentation made by the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at the meeting of the council.

He emphasised that the council was convinced on the level of preparedness of the electoral body.

According to governor, the INEC chairman also informed the council that the commission had embarked on training and retraining of staff for the successful conduct of the election.

“He informed the Council of the preparedness of INEC and everybody in the hall was convinced that INEC was ready for this election and a lot of things have been put in place.

“I think we all concluded that it is important for the chairman to even speak to the nation on the preparedness of INEC for this election – that would convince all of us that this forthcoming election is going to be free and fair.

“Look at it, they have improved card reader, the details of what had been done to improve it was made known.

“It was made known that the process of continuous accreditation and voting system (vote at the same time and you leave) was the best.

“He also told the Council that they are not lacking in terms of finance and that all the monies appropriated have been given to them and that they are ready for the election.

“He went further to inform the Council that all training and retraining of every category of staff that they (INEC) will use, they have already started and they are having consultations with every group of people, religious, artisans and trade unions to let them know (about the election).

“So, everybody  was convinced that INEC, as at today, is ready for the elections and questions were asked, he was interrogated and he responded and gave adequate explanation to the satisfaction of all of us,’’ he said.