On Wednesday night, the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu stated that he would only approve what is affordable as the new minimum wage, assuring that the national assembly would get a memorandum from his office once the issue is been settled.
He said this while speaking at the democracy celebration dinner at the old Old Banquet Hall, presidential villa,Abuja, he said that the amount which would be sent to the national assembly would be one which Nigeria can afford.Recall that the negations concerning the minimum wage were not concluded at the meeting which was held last Friday between the presidency and the labor officials, the federal government team along side the Organized Private Sector had slightly increased the amount to N62,00 from the first proposed N60,00 while the Labor congress alsoreduced their proposed wage from N494,000 to N250,000.
At the start of the meeting, the government and OPS were offering 48,000 while the organized labor started with a demand of N615,000.
However at the end of the meeting 62,000 which the government and private sector is offering and the 250,000which the organized labor is demanding would be presented before the president for him to have a final say and from his office an official memorandum would be sent to the the national assembly to formally pass the bill.
But while at the dinner, the president assured the president of the senate and other members present at the dinner that he would do what is expected of him as the leader but what also only pay what he can afford as minimum wage.
“Senate President, Deputy Senate President, you’ll get a notice from me if i have changed my mind on minimum wage, about minimum wage, we are going to do it; what Nigeria can afford, what you can afford, what i can afford.They ask you to cut your coat according to your size, if you have size at all.”
Mr president also cleared the air concerning his slip on stage while addressing the nation at the eagle’s square in Abuja, during the earlier hours of the day, responding to the long spread reactions on the social media, Tinubu referred to the the incident as a move of obeisance to the special day saying it was a day worth falling for.
He further went on to explain, referring to himself as a ‘yoruba boy’ who was just prostrating at the eagle’s square giving that the day is worth falling for, according to him June 12 is a day that signifies the heart and soul of the nation’s democratic challenges.
“Early this morning, i had a swagger and it’s on social media, they are confused whether i was doing buga or babaringa, but it is a day to celebrate democracy while doing dobale for today.
“I am additionally, a yoruba boy, i did my dobale, democracy is a day worth falling for” he said.
Other pro democracy icons who were also at the dinner are, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, chief Segun Osoba, Senator Shehu Sani, George Mbah and the minister of solid minerals, Dr Dele Alake, these dignitaries all took to the stage to talk about immense contributions of president Tinubu to the democracy struggles that have eventually defined what was being celebrated yesterday.
The president of the senate, Godswill Akpabio, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, Speaker of the house of representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume were all present at the dinner.
Other renown people at the event included, Tony Elumelu, Chief of staff to the president; Femi Gbajabiamila and the wife of the vice president, Nana Shettima.
