The 142nd meeting of the National Economic Council will take place on Thursday at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, where President Bola Tinubu will speak with state governors about the new national minimum wage.
Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to the president, disclosed plans for the unprecedented appearance when he spoke in Kano as part of a high-level delegation to express sympathy to Vice President Kashim Shettima for the death of his mother-in-law.
Gbajabiamila revealed that President Tinubu would be present at the planned NEC meeting on Thursday, calling the arrangement “unusual” as he gave Vice President Shettima the President’s condolence message.
“He is indeed saddened and he wished he was here with you. You know our President is very ubiquitous, he can be in a million places at the same time, but unfortunately, this bill, as you well know, calls for him to be at the seat of power.
He will be joining you tomorrow, in fact, and his presence in Abuja at this time is crucial. He will be joining you tomorrow at the NEC meeting, which he ever hardly attends, this might even be his first meeting,” Gbajabiamila said.
The meeting comes days after the Federal Executive Council, on Tuesday, stepped down the report of the Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage down, citing the need for President Tinubu to further consult with other stakeholders on the matter.
They comprise state governors, local government authorities and the private sector.
Idris said the council deferred acting on the memo given that the Federal Government is not the sole stakeholder on the national minimum wage issue.
“That memo was stepped down to enable Mr President to consult further, especially with the state governors and the organized private sector, before he makes a presentation to the National Assembly before an executive bill is presented to the National Assembly.
“I would like to announce that, in light of the fact that the new national minimum wage is not solely a federal government matter, the President will continue to consult in order to make an informed decision. It is known as the national minimum wage because it has an impact on the organized private sector, state and local governments, and federal agencies. It is not just a federal government issue.
“Mr. President has reviewed the report and will seek additional input before submitting the final version to the National Assembly,” Idris stated.
The Federal Government, Organised Private Sector and Labour had held several meetings on the new minimum wage with the NLC and Trade Union Congress leaders insisting on N250,000.
On the other hand, the Federal Government, states and the OPS made a counter-offer of N62,000. However, the state governors argued that they would not sustain any minimum wage higher than N60,000.
NEC was established by the provisions of section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 & 19 of part I of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Its membership comprises the 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank, and other co-opted government officials.
The council, led by the vice president, convenes once a month to carry out the president’s directive to “advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programs of the various Governments of the Federation.”
