By Victor Ahiuma-Young
THERE are strong indications that federal civil servants will receive their harmonised pay package this month, even as the new minimum wage would be presented at the next Council of State meeting for approval and other necessary actions.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, at a meeting yesterday with leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to avert planned industrial action by workers from October 1, over the new pay, disclosed that President Jonathan had directed that the federal civil servants harmonised pay package be reflected in their September pay package.

A statement by Mr. Emmanuel Aziken, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister said, NLC delegation  was led by Congress President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and included NLC Secretary General, Comrade John Odah.

According to the statement, Chief Wogu informed NLC that in line with the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan, federal civil servants would get the new pay reflected in their September pay packge and efforts were on top gear to fast track the enactment of the new Minimum Wage Act into law and that it would be passed on to the National Assembly as soon as the National Council of States endorsed the appropriate memo.

According to the statement, the Minister said at the end of the meeting that, “this successful dialogue with the NLC leadership is again a testimony to the maturity of our labour leaders. I have explained to them the efforts of government towards improving the welfare of all workers and in the specific case of the Minimum Wage, I explained to them all the processes involved.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s concern for workers’ welfare is not just because of the 50th independence anniversary celebrations, I know that Mr. President wants all Nigerians to have a reason for celebration every time and if it is within his power to do it, he will do it and in this case he wants all federal workers to have cause to celebrate.”

”Yes I am grateful to Comrade Omar and Comrade Odah for the patience and adoption of dialogue on this matter and in every other matter that we have had to deal with. I have given them the specific assurance that government would as soon as we get the adoption of the Council of States send the bill on a new Minimum Wage to the National Assembly.”

Earlier,  Comrade Omar had told the Minister that their patience and failure to go on strike on the issue before now was because of the commitment they had seen on the part of government as demonstrated by the prompt and genuine actions of the Minister.

He cautioned that their patience is being overstretched and there is pressure mounting on them by their members.

Speaking to Vanguard, the NLC President, said the Minister pleaded to them for patience and assured that the new minimum wage issue would be discussed at the next council of states meeting and that it would have been discussed at the last meeting, but had to be dropped because many members were not in attendance.