Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume has lamented that the new minimum wage increase being demanded by organized labour are not realistic.
Akume said this in Abuja on Thursday during a meeting with the National Executive Council, NEC, of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.
Addressing the Christian community for support as the tripartite Committee on minimum wage continues negotiations, Akume stated that he cannot pay a minimum wage of ₦100,000 to his drivers because he has four of them.
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He lamented that it would be a difficult responsibility for him.
According to him, “I can’t afford to pay my driver one hundred thousand because they are four. And these other people, dependents.”
He went on to complain about the demands being made by the organised labour, adding, “Where do we get that money from?”
Meanwhile, the secretary to the government said the federal government is considering economic productivity and stability in the quest to pick a new national minimum wage.
Akume’s reassurance is coming amidst the ongoing negotiations with the organized labour and private sector for a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
The SGF emphasized need for people to be productively engaged, adding that apart from just paying a new minimum wage, the government is also looking at controlling inflation and having a balanced economy.
He said, “Our people must rise up and have something in their pockets. It is not about demanding 100,000 naira without productivity. We are looking at controlling inflation and ensuring a balanced economy.”
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During the meeting, Akume also chided the organized labour for shutting down the national grid during its nationwide strike on Monday to press home its demand for the government to approve a higher minimum wage figure for workers.
According to him, shutting down the grid is a treasonable offence.
“Nowhere in the world has labor ever tampered with the national grid. It is treason! Treasonable felony is economic sabotage, you don’t do that.
“We are trying to rebuild the economy. The president is picking up, and they want to destroy it. Of what use is that to all of us? That is not the way,” he said.
