The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina has said it is not feasible to pay N30,000 as minimum wage for civil servants.
The Nigerian Labour Congress and the federal government has being at loggerheads over the demand for an increase in the minimum wage.
The N24,000 increase from N18,000 proposed by the federal government was rejected by labour
While speaking in a live programme on Channels TV programme yesterday, Adesina explained that it is impossible to achieve labour’s bidding even if public office holders sacrifice their entire pay.
He added that it is difficult for some governors to pay N18,000, not to talk of N30,000.
“So if they can’t pay N18,000 and labour is asking for N30,000 and they refuse to come lower, there may be a stalemate which will not be good for the country,” he said.
“I think in the spirit of negotiation, labour should not insist on N30,000.”
Asked if the political class “especially members of the All Progressives Congress (APC)” agreeing to reduce their salaries will not make the new minimum wage demand possible, the presidential spokesman replied: “I doubt.”
“Even if they decide not to collect anything, it still doesn’t take care of N30,000 minimum wage; it doesn’t.
“Maybe if the members of the national assembly concede part of their salaries and allowances, it can make a dent on minimum wage. But other office holders don’t earn anything outrageous.”
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