Recall that President Buhari had on Jan. 9 inaugurated the advisory committee chaired by an economist and financial expert, Mr Bismarck Rewane, where he reiterated his commitment to an upward review of the minimum wage.

Also, Buhari had on Dec. 19, 2018 while presenting the 2019 Appropriation Bill at the joint session of the National Assembly announced his intention to constitute the committee.

He said the committee would recommend “modalities for the implementation of the new minimum wage in such a manner as to minimise its inflationary impact as well as ensure that its introduction does not lead to job losses’’.

The two chambers of the National Assembly had deliberated and approved the bill on N30,000 as new national minimum wage.

(VANGUARD)

The Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udo Udoma made this development known on Tuesday while appearing before the Senate Committee on Finance headed by Senator John Enoh.

“We would be coming soon to the Senate because there may be the need to make some changes especially the VAT, in order to fund the minimum wage once it is announced”, he said.

The minister further revealed that the Technical Advisory Committee on the minimum wage will this week submit its report to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The current minimum wage of N18,000 is really too low. It is difficult for workers to manage on that amount. The president supported a review but it is important that as we are reversing it, we should be able to fund it,” he said.