Minimum wage: It is the duty of Organized Labour to enforce payment – SGF Akume

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has said that Organized Labour must enforce compliance with the minimum wage payments by state governments.

Akume’s statement is concerning the inability of some states to pay, with several states owing salaries at the moment.

Akume made this statement on Thursday, July 11, in Abuja at the end of a two-day pre-retirement summit organized by XEM Consulting Ltd.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office Dr. Nnamdi Mbaeri, Akume urged organized labour not to leave the enforcement of the law to the government.

“So, as we are discussing paying a pension, I will also throw it back to labour; you have the duty to enforce the compliance of these laws; it is not just the question of complaining.

“You should be able to come in; ensure the compliance of these laws by the relevant stakeholders,” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government could come up with a policy and issue circulars, adding that the onus lies on those who are monitoring the implementation to ensure that lack of compliance is sanctioned.

Akume said that whether it is minimum wage or pension, the best law that could be made is the law that can be enforced.

The SGF said that the Federal Government has initiated a lot of reform programmes that will lift people out of poverty soon, but Nigerians should be patient while they materialise.