Pictures: Buhari, OBJ, Saraki, Others unite as Council of State approves N27,000 minimum wage

Nigerian Political gladiators on Tuesday, shelved their political leanings as well as their antagonisms to attend and deliberate at the National Council of State Meeting.

The National Council of State is made up of the President, who is the Chairman; Vice-President, who is the Deputy Chairman; All former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation.

       The National Council of State on Tuesday endorsed N27,000 as new National Minimum Wage, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has disclosed

Ngige made this known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council’s meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The minister revealed that the bill on the new minimum wage of N27,000 would be transmitted to the National Assembly in the next 24 hours for passage into law.

According to him the N27,000 is the benchmark for all employers of labour with more than 25 workers on their payroll, emphasising that no employer of labour with more 25 workers should be paid less than the proposed N27,000.

The minister, however, stated that the Federal Government had resolved to pay its workers N30,000 as the new national minimum while the State Governments are free to negotiate with their respective staff.

The organised labour had insisted on a N30,000 minimum wage as proposed by the Ama Pepple tripartite committee, while the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) proposed N24,000.

Other members of the council include: Current and all former Chief Justices of Nigeria; President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives, all the Governors of the states of the Federation; and Attorney-General of the Federation.

The meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari was held at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

Notable among the political heavyweights who were seen exchanging warm pleasantries were President Muhammadu Buhari and Former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Their warm exchange is coming barely few days after Obasanjo wrote yet another letter accusing Buhari and the APC of perfecting plans to rig the 2019 elections in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obasanjo’s letter didn’t go without strongly worded response from the Presidency and the APC. Obasanjo in one of the responses was said to be hunted by his past mistakes while another response prayed for the former president to ‘get well soon’.

Another political heavyweight present was President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki who is also the DG of the Campaign organisation of the major opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar.

Other notable Nigerians  that were at the meeting include, former President Goodluck Jonathan former interim President, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Former Head of State Alhaji Abdulsalam Abubakar.

The Council advises the President in the exercise of his powers with respect to the:- National population census and compilation, publication and keeping of records and other information concerning the same; Prerogative of mercy and Award of national honours.

The Council also advises the President on The Independent National Electoral Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission); The National Judicial Council (including the appointment of the members, other than ex-officio members of that Council)and The National Population Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission).

The National Council of States equally advises the president whenever requested to do so on the maintenance of public order within the Federation or any part thereof and on such other matters as the President may direct.