The federal government Tuesday said it was in the process of kick-starting a review of the current minimum wage of N30, 000.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who addressed workers at the 13th quadrennial delegates conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held in Abuja, said the present government would fast- track the process to see that a new minimum wage was ready latest by May next year.
The Nigerian government had last year dismissed reports that it was set to review salaries of civil servants, with the minister clarifying that the government was to review only some peculiar allowances, not salaries.
Ngige Tuesday warned labour unions to desist from meddling in government affairs and attempting to impose their will on it.
He also accused trade unions of violating the terms of the Trade Union Act which mandated that all newly elected Trade Union Officials take the required courses at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) for necessary knowledge and develop into seasoned Industrial Relations authorities.
He said: “The good stories that filter out from the Trade Union Act are that we put out an Act, a legislation, that had in place an inbuilt review five years mechanism, unlike the former Act. So mandatorily, Nigeria will produce a new minimum wage on or before May, 2024.
“It is acknowledged both nationally and internationally that government would not interfere in trade union matters and likewise, Trade Unions are not to interfere in Labour administration unless as provided by the laws and principles of tripartism.
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