Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has pleaded with the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, to consider the economy of the country on their demands for an increased minimum wage.
The minister urged the organised to accept a national minimum wage that will not undermine the national economy and lead to mass retrenchment of workers.
Idris, who made the appeal while declaring open the 2024 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasised the need for a realistic and sustainable wage system that balances workers’ needs with the country’s economic realities.
The in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, acknowledged the government’s commitment to reviewing the minimum wage but cautioned against demands that could harm the economy.
He highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce the cost of living and increase Nigerians’ purchasing power through programs like the Presidential CNG initiative, which aims to cut transportation costs by 50%.
“As I have repeatedly said, the federal government is not opposed to the increase of wages for Nigerian Workers but we keep on advocating for a realistic and sustainable wage system for the workers – a wage system that will not undermine the economy, lead to mass retrenchment of workers and jeopardize the welfare of about 200 million Nigerians.
“We want the Labour Unions to understand that the relief that Nigerians are expecting, and that they fully deserve, will not come only in the form of an increase in wages.
“It will also come as efforts to reduce the cost of living and to ensure that more money stays in the pockets of Nigerians. And this is where programs like the Presidential CNG initiative come in. By replacing or complementing petrol usage with CNG, that program alone will cut transportation costs by as much as 50 percent,” the minister said.
He appealed to the clergy to support President Bola Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria’s renaissance and to pray for wisdom and guidance as the country navigates its current challenges.
Noting that President Tinubu stepped into power at the most challenging time for Nigeria, Idris said that the president is working assiduously to ensure sustainable development across the country.
He hinted that his Ministry would collaborate with the clergymen in the implementation of the national orientation programme, the National Values Charter.
“Let me, therefore, say that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation will very enthusiastically collaborate with the Charismatic Bishops Conference as we implement our flagship national orientation programme, the National Values Charter, which seeks to ingrain enduring values and morals in the hearts and minds of our citizens,” he said.
He stressed that president Tinubu has availed himself creditably in the implementation of the goals of his Renewed Hope Agenda as Nigerians have continued to witness incremental successes in the various sectors of our economy.
Earlier, the national president of the Charismatic Bishop Conference, Arch-Bishop Leonard Bature Kawas pledged the unalloyed loyalty and support to the administration of President Tinubu, stressing that they would continue to partner with the government to achieve its vision for Nigeria.
He clarified that they invited the Minister, who is a Muslim, to declare their conference open, because they see in him a detribalized Nigerian who harbours no religious differences.
Kawas added that the conference is being attended by bishops from the 36 states of the federation and 21 countries.
