By Daniel Peters.
President Bola Tinubu will discuss the new national minimum wage with state governors at the 142nd meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, today, Thursday.
Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff, revealed the plans for the unusual appearance while speaking in Kano.
He was leading a high-powered delegation to commiserate with Vice President Kashim Shettima over the demise of his mother-in-law.
Delivering the President’s condolence message, Gbajabiamila disclosed that President Tinubu would be attending the scheduled NEC meeting on Thursday, describing the plan as unusual. “He is indeed saddened and he wished he was here with you. You know our President is very ubiquitous; he can be in a million places at the same time, but unfortunately, this bill, as you well know, calls for him to be at the seat of power.
“Indeed, he will be joining you tomorrow (Thursday), and that’s how important his presence in Abuja is right now. He will be joining you at the NEC meeting, which he hardly ever attends. This might even be his first meeting,” Gbajabiamila said.
The meeting comes days after the Federal Executive Council, on Tuesday, deferred the report of the Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage, citing the need for President Tinubu to further consult with other stakeholders on the matter. These stakeholders include state governors, local government authorities, and the private sector.
Our correspondent recalls that the Information Minister, Muhammad Idris, had earlier addressed the press on further consultation over the minimum wage issue.
Idris said the council deferred acting on the memo given that the Federal Government is not the sole stakeholder on the national minimum wage issue.
“That memo was stepped down to enable Mr. President to consult further, especially with the state governors and the organized private sector, before he makes a presentation to the National Assembly,” Idris stated.
“So, Mr. President has studied the report and he’s going to consult wider before a final submission is made to the National Assembly,”he said.
The Federal Government, Organized Private Sector, and Labour have held several meetings on the new minimum wage, with the NLC and Trade Union Congress leaders insisting on N250,000.
In contrast, the Federal Government, states, and OPS made a counter-offer of N62,000. However, the state governors argued that they could not sustain any minimum wage higher than N60,000.
NEC was established by the provisions of Section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 & 19 of Part I of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Its membership comprises the 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank, and other co-opted government officials. Chaired by the Vice President, the council meets monthly to execute its mandate.
It is charged with the responsibility of “advising the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programmes of the various governments of the Federation.”
Edited by Dawud Ahmed.
