Ngige Warns Governors Against Cutting Salaries, Work Hours

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has warned state governors against reduction in remunerations and hours of work of workers. 

In a statement issued by Mr Samuel Olowokere, Deputy Director Press in the ministry, Ngige said the warning was necessary to restore industrial harmony and forestall breakdown of law and order.He said the warning followed protracted industrial crisis involving the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nasarawa State Government.He said this was also predicated in a letterto him by Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State for labour conciliation by the ministry. 

The minister said all parties had been invited for a crucial meeting on Wednesday by 2 p.m. at the Ministry of labour.He said “sequel to this, I hereby direct the unions to suspend the proposed picketingof government offices and demonstrations. I enjoin all parties to maintain the status quo ante pending the outcome of the meeting intended to resolve the issues in dispute.`Similarly, to avoid further escalation of disputes of this type all over the states of the federation, state governments are hereby advised to always negotiate any issue that touches on the salaries and wages of workers.“This is in order to ensure that they obtaina Collective Bargaining Agreement (BCA) before these remunerations are tampered with.“I wish to add for the avoidance of doubt that the issue of minimum wage flows out from the Minimum Wage Act, 2011, ” he said. Ngige said the law of the land must be respected by all in both public and private institutions.