Presidency faults report on new national minimum wage

The Presidency has expressed concern over reports alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari has reneged on earlier acceptance of the N30,000 as the new National Minimum Wage as recommended by the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee.

Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, in a statement said the reports were contrary to what transpired on Tuesday when the committee presented its report to the president.

He said throughout the reportsubmission ceremony, the president never mentioned any figure.

“What he committed himself to was a new minimum wage, and only after the Report of the committee has been reviewed by the executive and legislative processes of government and an appropriate bill presented to him for assent.

“Until the proposed minimum wage has gone through the whole gamut of lawmaking, President Buhari, who is a stickler for due process, will not be caught in this unnecessary web of controversy, which amounts to putting the cart before the horse and hair-splitting.

“As for those who have latched onto the concocted controversy to play cheap politics, we appeal to them to remember that elections are not won through loquaciousness, and trying to demean the President at every drop of a hat. But then, it is not surprising, as they have nothing else to sell to Nigerians, if they don’t ride on the name of the President. Stiff judgment awaits them at the polls,” he said.