President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday 9th January 2019 inaugurated a new Technical Advisory Committee on the implementation of a National Minimum Wage. The committee is to advise the government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs that will arise from the implementation of the consequential increases in salaries and allowances for workers currently earning above the new minimum wage.
Bismarck Rewane was appointed as the head of the committee before the commencement of the first (1st) Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa Abuja. Buhari disclosed that after the new minimum wage has been passed into law, the government will go into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who are already earning above the new minimum wage.
According to him, it was important to properly prepare the minds of those involved so that they will not be taken unawares when the time comes.
Pointing out that the last time Nigeria’s national minimum wage was reviewed was in 2011, he said that it was evident that a review was necessary, despite the prevailing fiscal challenges.
Speaking further, President Buahri enumerated the terms of reference for the committee to include develop, and advise government on how to successfully bring about a smooth implementation of impending wage increases and identify new revenue sources, and areas of existing expenditure from where some savings could be made in order to fund the wage increases without adversely impacting the nation’s development goals as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
Others are to “propose a work plan and modalities for the implementation of the salary increases, any other suggestions that will assist in the implementation of this, and future wage increases.
“Given the urgency of this exercise, the Committee is expected to complete its deliberations and submit its report and recommendations within one month from today (9th Jan., 2019).
Members of the committee are: Chairman FIRS, Dr Babatunde Fowler, Director General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, who is the secretary of the committee, representative of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Richard Egbule, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, Permanent Secretary General Service Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Olajide Odewale, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, and Solicitor General Of the Federation and Permanent Secretary ministry of Justice Mr. Dayo Apata.
Others are Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, office of the Vice President, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic Policy Dr. Joseph Nnanna, Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, Director General Debt Management Officer, Ms. Patience Oniaga, Director General National Institute of Social and Economic Research, Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith, Statistician General, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Yemi Kale, Mrs. Aisha Hamad, Mamman Garba and Tunde Lawal.
