Mr. Issa Aremu, the Director-General of MINILS in Ilorin, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his strong determination to establish a new national minimum wage and living wage by 2024.
Aremu expressed his approval of Tinubu's dedication to pursuing a growth strategy that focuses on increasing wages and aims to alleviate poverty in the year 2024. He made this statement in response to the president's New Year broadcast, which he issued on Monday in Ilorin.
The president's New Year address to the nation included a statement by Tinubu, where he emphasized the importance of not overlooking the material well-being of the poor, the most vulnerable, and the working people.
"He praised the president's effort to introduce a fresh national minimum wage for the hardworking labor force in Nigeria."
The director-generals emphasize that advocating for wage improvement is not only economically beneficial but also morally and politically justified.
The director-general urged states, local government councils, employers, and organized labor to support Tinubu's vision of achieving a year of widespread, secure, and productive employment with respect for human dignity in 2024.
He mentioned that this encompassed a wholesome atmosphere, along with fairly negotiated, promptly paid minimum and living wages.
He expressed his dissatisfaction with what he referred to as a complete breakdown in wage earnings caused by the inadequate and delayed payment of salaries.
This situation has transformed workers into what he labeled as "working beggars" instead of being part of a respected workforce that contributes value.
Aremu emphasized that the projected discussions on wages in 2024 would mark the sixth occasion of reviewing the national minimum wage since 1981, which were set at N125, N250, N5,500, N18,000, and N30,000 in the respective years.
He observed that it was impressive that the president admirably recognized the truth about the exorbitant expenses associated with living and the inflation triggered by the necessary elimination of petroleum subsidies."
He added that the president has rightly set the stage for robust constructive collective bargaining for new wage review in line with Nigeria’s labour laws and relevant conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The director-general observed that the pronouncement on wage improvement further pointed to Tinubu’s labour-friendly disposition dated to his presidential campaign council in which he dedicated a Directorate to labour, the only Presidential candidate to do so.
He pointed out that the bane of Nigeria’s development process involved recent times was non-appreciation of human resources as the critical factor of sustainable national development.
“Labour truly creates national wealth but labour must be promptly well paid, motivated, assured of income security after retirement as well as disciplined and skilled through training and retraining,” he said.
He submitted that the success of the Renewed Hope 8-point Agenda dealing with poverty eradication, economic growth, job creation and fighting corruption depend on motivated millions of workers in formal and informal sectors, private and public sectors.
Aremu also commended the 10th National Assembly leadership for improving on the budget of the “premier Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment”.
He added that budgetary allocations must tally with the vision of the President on combating the scourge of youth unemployment and under-employment.
The director-general also commended the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, for her bold sanctions against private companies and employers that disregarded occupational health and safety standards of workers in the world of work in 2023.
He therefore promised labour education on occupational health and safely in MINILS 2024 training calendar.
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