From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Benue State Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Gideon Akaa has said the union is still in negotiation with the government over the new minimum wage.
Comrade Akaa in a phone interview with Peoples Daily Weekend, disclosed this against the back drop of rumours making the round that 40,000 naira has been agreed between the union and government as the minimum wage to be paid to state civil servants.
He averred that negotiations are still ongoing between government and the union, stressing that government has not agreed to pay any amount yet.
“Am not aware of the rumour of 40,000. We held a meeting with the government and the negotiation is still ongoing. Nobody has mentioned anything about 40,000 to the best of my knowledge.
“So, where the rumor is coming from I do not know. Government has not agreed to pay any amount, we are still negotiating. Once negotiation is concluded, we will sign an agreement.
“As the negotiation is still ongoing, we have so many figures but we are yet to agree on something. We have 75,000, 77,000 on the negotiation table”.
Recall that Governor Hyacinth Alia had promised to implement the new minimum wage in the state when it was signed into law but five months after, negotiation are still ongoing while most states in the Federation have already started implementation of the new national minimum wage.
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