The implementation of the new National Minimum Wage bill signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari has been hit by some bottlenecks, according to Saturday PUNCH. The paper, in a report this morning, said it was told by officials of some state governments that they had yet to receive the documents containing the implementation guidelines from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, almost 10 days after the wage bill was signed into law.

The development is said to be hindering the commencement of negotiations between officials of state governments and the organised labour in the various states, the report said.

“The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission told one of our correspondents on Thursday that it was still awaiting the Presidency to release a copy of the Act to enable it to prepare the memo for state governments,” the paper said.

“When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Mr Emma Njoku, confirmed that a signed copy of the Act was still being expected by the commission.

“He said once the new minimum wage act was received from the presidency, the commission would issue a circular for the implementation of the new minimum wage,” the paper added.

It quoted Njoku as saying: “We are expecting the presidency to send us a signed version of the new minimum wage Act. As soon as we get it, we will issue the circular for its implementation.”

Update news