We can’t pay minimum wage until 2012 – FG

[emezico]

The statement of the Federal government on Monday, is contradictory to his previous stand on the minimum wage. In it's previous statement, it stood for the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage, and also urged states government to follow suit.

President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday that the Federal Government could not be committed to the full implementation of the Minimum Wage Act 2011 till next year.

The President spoke through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, who led a Federal Government team to a meeting with organised labour in Abuja.

Anyim said, "The President said that we should not break the law. (He said) we should invite the labour leaders to let them know that we would pay (workers on) levels one to six and then include the funds for the payment of the relativity in the next budget, so that with effect from January, it can take off.

"We have no problem agreeing with labour; everything is clear, but we cannot go against the law. The only way we can raise money is through budgeting; another budgeting season is around the corner, so that we can commence the implementation of the law from January.

"The Federal Government has made budgetary provisions to pay the new wage to workers from grade level one to six, who are known to earn below N18,000. You have demanded that the Act should apply to all categories of workers in the country.

"I want to say that the Federal Government did not contemplate this position, and it did not make provision in the budget to implement this as everybody focused on the minimum wage."

Punch