FG sets January for nationwide minimum wage implementation

The Federal Government has set January 2025 as the take-off date for the national minimum wage implementation by state governments.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, stated this while receiving the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCN) in his office in Abuja. He said the Federal Government and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will surely comply with the January date while many states are expected to follow suit.

Dingyadi, who appealed for patience from the workers, said his ministry was yet to know the states that have complied and those yet to comply.

According to him, based on information provided by the workers, four or five states were yet to comply with the new minimum wage while some have started implementation.

The Minister said: “The FCT said it will comply with the new minimum wage in January. But your FCT chapter is saying that they want it done right now. I am not sure whether that is fair. Many states are going to do it in January. So, I don’t know why your FCT chapter is not accepting the same January. So, since you have raised this issue, we are going to look at the matter once again and see what could be done, particularly about the federal agencies you talked about.

“You have not given us the names. We can be better guided with a list of those who have not complied, to see what we can do.”

He said the ministry had taken note of all the issues in contention, including the one about the Office of the Accountant General and the issue of the Federal Civil Service Commission, which the ASCSN had been trying to resolve, and assured that all of the issues in contention would be resolved amicably.

The minister assured the union of his determination to do all that is required to ensure peace, tranquillity, and stability within the labour industry in the country, adding that his doors would always be open to trade unions.

However, he appealed to the leadership of the union to lead by example and always peacefully conduct themselves by seeking peaceful resolution of industrial disagreements as they arise.

The President of ASCN, Shehu Mohammed, congratulated the Minister on his appointment, describing it as “a very good opportunity to reinvigorate the Ministry of Labour towards enhancing industrial relations across the country.”

He sought the Minister’s intervention in the non-remittance of the union’s check-off dues by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, as well as on other issues of concern.

Mohammed lauded the Ministry for making efforts towards repositioning the trade unions in the country and also conducting impactful oversight responsibilities.