LIVING WAGE WILL ERADICATE CORRUPTION IN PUBLIC OFFICES – SPEAKER 03-06-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, has reiterated his position that the government could eradicate corruption in public offices by paying the workers a ‘living wage.’
The Speaker made this known at a peace meeting convened by the leadership of the National Assembly between the Federal Government and the organised labour over a new minimum wage.
Dr. Abbas however, stated that the government cannot fix all the perennial issues concerning wages and salaries all at once.
“One thing that this government and this country can do to eliminate corruption in the long-run is to embrace a ‘living wage.’ There are no two ways about it. But we should also be mindful that the issues of numerous decades cannot be repaired within one day. It will be a gradual process”
The Speaker while commending the leadership of the NLC and the TUC for accepting the invitation to the dialogue said the Parliament would continue to do its best to ensure that the wellbeing of the citizens is given the desired attention.
The organised labour was represented by the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero; and President of the TUC, Festus Osifo, who led other national executives of the unions.
Emerging from the closed-door session, the meeting agreed that the FG continued with the N35,000 wage award to workers, which was suspended in February 2024, pending the negotiations and agreement on a new minimum wage.