N30,000 Minimum Wage: Kwara Strikes Deal With Organised Labour

Kwara Government has reached an agreement on minimum wage with Organised Labour in the State.

The deal confirmed that the payment for levels one to six had begun since February 2021.

The agreement holds that the consequential adjustment would be implemented “as would be agreed upon by the minimum wage committee” amid ongoing negotiations between the two parties.

Delegation of Organised Labour led by the state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Issa Ore, signed the agreement on behalf of the labour unions while Permanent Secretary Service Welfare Alhaja Afusat Afolabi signed the agreement on behalf of the Head of Service/Chairman of the Government’s Minimum Wage Committee.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Senator Ibrahim Yahya Oloriegbe and other government officials, including Commissioner for Finance Florence Olasumbo Oyeyemi witnessed the signing ceremony, it was gathered.

The agreement reads: “The effective date for the 1st phase of the new minimum wage implementation covering grade level 01-06 shall be the 1st day of February 2021. The consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage for GL 07-17 shall be implemented by the state government across the board, in accordance to relevant salary structures in the state public service and their relativity as would be agreed upon by the Minimum Wage Committee.

“All due processes of promotion for workers in the state public service shall be concluded on or before their due dates and annual salary increment shall be implemented for workers as and when due in accordance to their condition of service.

“Pensions shall also be reviewed upward in the state based on the percentage agreed upon by the Minimum Wage Committee when consequential adjustment is being considered.”

The agreement also said the implementation of pay as you earn (PAYE) shall be maintained in line with the existing tax law.

The Governor commended the labour union for their understanding and said the government remains committed to the welfare of the people, including the civil servants who are the engine room of public service delivery.

Ore said he had the mandate of the workers to conclude work on the signing of the new minimum wage for the junior cadres, saying negotiation is still ongoing on the consequential adjustment component.

According to him: “Today, we were able to sign that leg of the minimum wage agreement which affects only grade level 1 to 6. You know there are two legs under it: the new minimum wage and the consequential adjustment. That of the consequential adjustment is still going on.

“The labour side and government side will continue the negotiation. And I am happy to inform you that we have the mandate of the workers to come here for the signing which has now become a law today.”