Rivers NLC Receives Minimum Wage Chart Condemns VAT Hike

The Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has confirmed receiving a copy of the new minimum wage chart from its national office.
State Chairperson, Comrade Beatrice Itubo, said this in a telephone interview with The Tide last Friday.
Itubo said the council has also transmitted a copy of the chart with a covering note to the State Government for implementation, adding that it is expected that Governor Wike whom she described as a labour friendly governor, will implement the new minimum wage with arrears, starting from April 2019 when the new minimum wage law was signed.
She said the labour movement in Rivers State and the entire state workforce will be grateful to the State Government if the minimum wage was expeditiously implemented with their arrears.
Itubo addressed Rivers workers to watch out for the implementation of the new minimum wage with arrears starting from April 2019.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Council of NLC has expressed dismay over the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) by the government.
She said the increase in VAT from five percent to 7.5 percent will inflict more hardship on Nigerians.
The NLC Chairperson, however, said the State Council is waiting for reaction from national office on the issue.