Labour Minister Ngige warns governors against slash in workers' salaries, hours of work

Nigeria's Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has issued a statement warning state governors from reducing the salary and hours of work of their workers.


He was reacting to the recent crisis involving labour unions and the Nasarawa state government.

He said all parties had been invited for a crucial meeting on Wednesday by 2 p.m. at the Ministry of labour and directed unions to "suspend the proposed picketing of government offices and demonstrations."

"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 obtain a Collective Bargaining Agreement (BCA) before these remunerations are tampered with," his statement said.

“I wish to add for the avoidance of doubt that the issue of minimum wage flows out from the Minimum Wage Act, 2011," which he said must be respected by all in both public and private institutions.

He, however, said the issue of arbitrary reduction in the hours of work was against the International Labour Organisation (ILO) regulation; Convention 1, which had been adopted and domesticated by Nigeria.