Minimum wage: Buhari to consider recommendation, make view public — Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information , Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, said the N 30, 000 minimum wage proposal contained in the report of the tripartite committee set up by the Federal Government was still a recommendation .

He said President Muhammadu Buhari would still consider the report which was on Tuesday presented to him by the chairman , Amal Pepple , and then take a decision on it.

Pepple had while presenting the report on Tuesday disclosed that the committee recommended that the national minimum wage be increased from N 18, 000 monthly to N 30, 000.

She had said her committee also drafted a bill that the Federal Government would send to the National Assembly to effect the change.

A section of the media had reported that Buhari had accepted the report and endorsed the recommendation of N 30, 000 as the new minimum wage .

Mohammed, however , said Buhari would only take a decision and make his view known after considering the report.

“ I think it ( N 30, 000) was a recommendation . Mr . President will consider it and will make his views known in due course, ” the minister said .

When pressed further , Mohammed said , “ I said a recommendation was submitted . Mr . President will get back to the committee after he has studied the recommendation . ”

On whether the revenue sharing formula might be reviewed if the new minimum wage is approved to enable the states to pay , the minister said , “ Once again , like I said , a recommendation has been made and in responding to the recommendation , all these views will be taken into consideration. ”

The committee ’ s report will still be presented before the National Economic Council and the Council of State before a decision will be made .

Once a decision is taken, the Federal Government will send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly.