Labour leaders in Nigeria yesterday cautioned the Federal Government to stop foot dragging on the New Minimum Wage and allow the tripartite committee conclude its job to avoid industrial crisis.

The ultimatum coincided with an assurance from the Federal Government on the new minimum wage.

The labour leaders, who are members of the Minimum Wage Committee at a joint news conference addressed in Lagos, gave the federal government 14 days to ensure that the committee concludes its work or be ready to face industrial action.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, said that the committee was not pleased with the comments alleged to have been made by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

According to him, Ngige had last week allegedly said that the committee should adjourn indefinitely to enable him do further consultations with the government.

The NLC president said that in the course of the meeting, the committee members had time to consult and received memoranda and inputs from 21 state governments, specialized Agencies of the Federal Government, the Organized Private Sector, Organised Labour and the general public.

Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the United Labour Congress, (ULC) said that issues concerning the minimum wage has been concluded and that the committee was expecting government representative to pronounce their own figure.

Ajaero, however, refused to give a likely figure that could be approved as minimum wage and also did not give a clear answer on whether government was sincere on paying the new wage.

He said that the call for a new minimum wage became necessary because it was already overdue, and in view of the increasing cost of goods and services.

The news conference was attended by top labour leaders from NLC, TUC and ULC.

•Excerpted from The Nation report