By Daniel Idonor
AN end to the looming industrial crises across Nigeria, appears in sight as the National Council of State, NCS, the highest advisory council in the country, Thursday approved the proposed N18,000 National Minimum Wage as benchmark for all workers in the country.

To this end, the council, made up of all former and serving heads of state, leadership of the National Assembly and all the Governors, advised President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately forward the bill to the National Assembly for legislation.

The NCS which was chaired by President Jonathan also applauded the plans unveiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of credible general elections next year.

Briefing State House correspondents, after the NCS, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Gov. Danjuma Goje of Gombe State, said the council took the decision to back the president on the minimum wage for the “interest of workers and Nigerian economy.

“Council deliberated extensively on the issue of the national minimum wage for the Nigerian workers and council resolved to advice Mr. President to send a bill to the National Assembly requesting the NASS to enact the N18,000 as a minimum wage for workers because it has to be revisited.

“This is the position of the council and it is done in the interest of the Nigerian workers and in the interest of the economy. So at least, our workers will live a very decent life.

“With this, I believe the problem between the government and the labour will be resolved finally. This is the position of the Council.”

On the issue of legislation that put the minimum wage issue under the exclusive legislative list, he said: “Given the fact that the resources available to the states in the country are different, while some are rich, others are very poor. Secondly, we are operating a federal system; states should be given the leverage to pay their workers in line with the peculiar situation.

“Others can decide to pay N40,000 per month; others can decide to negotiate downward according to their resources. But that can only be done if the constitution is amended. For now, the minimum wage is binding on all governments and corporate bodies.”

Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State said the NCS advised President Jonathan to dialogue with the National Assembly to amend the constitution to remove the issue of minimum wage from the exclusive list to enable state governments negotiate wages based on their financial strength.

According to him “council decided that Mr. President should immediately forward the bill to NASS to enact the new minimum wage in the country to be N18,000 per month. The council, however, also noted the submissions from various states on the ability or otherwise to meet the newly approved minimum wage for the country.”