The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000 for all administration staff.
This was revealed in a statement issued by Anthony Odeh, Press Secretary to the Head of the Civil Service of the FCT, and made available to journalists on Tuesday.
The approval follows the enactment of the Minimum Wage Bill by President Bola Tinubu in May 2024, which set the new minimum wage at N70,000 after extensive negotiations with organized labour unions.
The PUNCH reports that the FCT chapters of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had recently threatened to shut down operations on November 30, 2024, in line with nationwide directives from their national bodies.
The proposed action was due to delays in implementing the new wage structure in some states, including the FCT. The unions also accused the Wike-led administration of failing to engage with labour representatives since its inauguration in August 2023.
However, according to the statement, Wike approved the payment on Monday, November 18, 2024, to alleviate the challenges faced by workers under the FCT Administration.
The Acting Head of the Civil Service of the FCT, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, disclosed that the minister also approved the payment of three months’ arrears, effective November 2024, for all administrative staff.
This gesture will further motivate the entire administration staff to support the minister in delivering on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Adayilo stated.
The statement emphasized that the approval underscores the minister’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of the workforce.
