Plateau: Implementing new minimum wage will affect approved employment process

The Plateau State Government has said that there will be cost implications, as implementing the new minimum wage will likely affect the process of employment approved already by the government.

State Head of Civil Service, Izam Azi, revealed this when the Plateau State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriation led by its chairman, Yahaya Adamu, visited the service headquarters and other government departments on a familiarisation tour.

Speaking, chairman of the committee who is a member representing Wase State Constituency, Yahaya Adamu, told his host that the committee’s visit was to acquaint members with the operations of MDAs under the committee’s purview and to assure accountability in the use of appropriated funds.

Head of civil service, while appreciating Governor Lalong for giving priority to workers’ welfare, tasked the state legislative arm to fast–track the passage of the state’s contributory pension bill so as to alleviate suffering.

In October 2019, Lalong initially promised to implement the N30, 000 minimum wage approved by President Buhari. But with the adjustment upwards by the federal government in the scales and steps by workers, Lalong is pedaling backward as he has not started new negotiations with the workers. Even the previous N18, 000 minimum wage was a herculean task for the state government. Lalong admitted that the workers of any nation constitute the backbone of government who should not be toyed with but encouraged socially and financially.

At a forum organised by the state Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) at the Hill Station Hotel, Jos, sometimes last year, he had said then that he had no justifiable excuse not to implement it. However, to date, the new minimum wage negotiation has not commenced.