The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that the new National Minimum Wage meets the present economic realities.
Mustapha made this known at a dinner and award night organized to mark the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) 40th Anniversary celebration.
The theme of the anniversary was: “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, National Unity and Social Justice’’.
According to him, the Federal Government was conscious of the need to bring wages to meet economic realities.
Mustapha said, “It is in this regard that the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage was inaugurated to review the National Minimum Wage.
“The committee is determined to complete its assignment before the end of this year.
“I am confident that the outcome of the assignment would address the issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty in the country.
“That is why this administration takes the welfare of the Nigerian worker as priority by putting so much effort into the resuscitation of the economy.’’
He added that the primary objective of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) was to diversify the economy, grow skills, create wealth, gain infrastructures, ensure food security and provide jobs.
The SGF noted the importance of the NLC in the affairs of any government could not be overlooked.
“It is the soul of the government because without the workers, be they civil servants, private sector workers or even pensioners, there will be nobody to man the system,‘’ he said.
Mustapha while speaking on the theme of the NLC anniversary said it was time to count on achievements and chat a new course for the future.
According to him, it was indeed a time to reflect on years of struggle, turbulence and the service of the congress to the Nigerian workers.
Earlier, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said the three-day anniversary celebration had been a brainstorming event.
“From the volume of discourse, it is very clear that the future is bright because we have assembled the best from among our rank and file.
“We brought in our founding fathers that laid the solid foundation that allowed us to continue to exist despite the challenges.
“ We are all convinced that from the issues that were discussed, we have reasons to look into the future and build the NLC of our dreams,” Wabba said.
The NLC President added that the anniversary award was meant to recognise the contribution of patriots, founding fathers, organisations and individuals that had worked assiduously to ensure the NLC’s continued existence.
He said some of the awardee’s contribution were too numerous to mention, adding that some had paid the supreme price and laid down their lives.
“In the era of the military, some of them spent several months in jail. There is no other occasion to recognise these people than the 40th-anniversary congress,’’ Wabba said.
Some of the awardees include Hassan Sunmonu, pioneer president of the NLC, Ali Chiroma, late Pascal Bafyau, Adams Oshiomole, among others.
They were awarded in recognition of their sacrifice and excellent services in the struggle for social justice.