Igberetv reports that on Tuesday, the Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, said that Government cannot meet the demand of Labour in the new minimum wage regime.
Ngige said this as he addressed the members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), led by its National President, Ibrahim Khaleel, in Abuja
He said that the Nigerian economy will be crippled like that of Venezuela, if the government agree to grant the request of the labour Union.
There has been disagreement over the percentage to be paid to senior workers as the Federal Government paid the N30,000 minimum wage to workers in Grade Level 1 to 6.
He also said that about 1.4 million workers in federal public service would take 33 per cent of government budget in 2020, should Labour’s demand be accepted.
He said that if all the demands were met government would be left with no money to carry out other projects such as building roads, airports, rails, health centres and schools, if government should spend 33 per cent of the 2020 budget to pay salaries and wages.
He said: The government cannot shut down because it wants to pay workers’ wages.
He explained that 2020 Budget of N10.3 trillion has N3.8 trillion as personnel cost without overhead. If you add running cost and other incidental costs, the total recurrent budget as presented to the National Assembly has taken 76 per cent. Where do we get the money to build roads, airport, rails, health centres, schools etc.
But, after talks yesterday, both the government and Labour shifted grounds in their positions on the implementation of the new wage.
The negotiations will continue on Wednesday in Abuja.
