By Akinwale Kasali
To be able to pay the minimum wage of N30,000 per month, thousands of workers would have to be laid off.
The Federal Government on Thursday made known this stand following its inability to pay the new minimum wage of N30,000 to all the workers. To do that, it would have to reduce the number of its workforce.
This disclosure was made by the Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, when members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja.
Ngige said for the FG to meet the new minimum wage demands, it has to reduce its workforce to lighten the wages burden on it.
He stressed that the country needs additional N580 billion to meet the newly approved wage.
Ngige said workers on grade level 1 to 6 have started enjoying the new wage, but for other levels in the Civil Service to enjoy these largesse, it has to trim down the workforce.
He pleaded with his guests for understanding and accept the adjustment made from level 7 to 17.
The Minister revealed that the Federal Government had just three months to implement the new wage.
The Federal government and the NLC are currently in a battle as the former threatened to embark on a nationwide strike in October if the deliberation on the new minimum wage adjustment does not resume.
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