The Presidency has criticised the concocted controversy over
President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on proposed N30,000 by some
political actors to score cheap political goals, saying “stiff judgment
awaits them at the polls’’.
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| Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina |
Mr Femi Adesina, made the condemnation in a statement in Abuja on
Thursday while reacting to comments apparently made by the Atiku media
office.
In a statement issued by his media office, Atiku had allegedly
claimed that “President Buhari cannot be trusted to implement the ‘new’
minimum wage of N30, 000’’ recommended by the Pepple tripartite
committee.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), said “Buhari may not have the political will to implement
the new wage’’.
However, Adesina said: “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.’’
The presidential aide therefore frowned at the recurring reports
alleging that Buhari had reneged on earlier acceptance of the N30,000
recommended as the new National Minimum Wage by the National Minimum
Wage Tripartite Committee.
He noted that these reports were contrary to what transpired on
Tuesday when the committee presented its Report to the President.
He said the president, while acknowledging the concerns raised by
government on affordability and labour’s focus on meaningful increase,
stated clearly in a speech, which was made available to the media that:
“In a way, both arguments are valid. I want to assure you all that we
will immediately put in place the necessary machinery that will close
out these open areas.
“Our plan is to transmit an Executive Bill to the National Assembly
for passage within the shortest possible time. I am fully committed to
having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.
“As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we
will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in
this report. I, therefore, would like to ask for your patience and
understanding in the coming weeks.”
“From the above, and throughout the report-submission 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
law-making, 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.’’
