Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, has said the Federal Government will implement the New Minimum Wage of N30,000.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, Mustafa said government is committed to the implementation, despite the increase from N27,000 to N30,000 by the House of Representatives.

“Look at where we took it from; from N18,000 as a minimum wag. What is before the House of Representatives is N30,000, although our recommendation is N27,000.

“Whatever comes out of it, I can tell you that this president has sufficient capital in terms of his integrity; to own up whatever the Nigerian people decide,” he said.

The SGF further disclosed that government has made adequate arrangement in the 2019 Appropriation Bill, to cater for the new wage.

He explained that the importance of this was to give workers across the country a reasonable wage, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari does not take the welfare of workers for granted.

“We have made adequate provision in the 2019 budget; we mean well for the good workers of Nigeria,” he added.

Earlier, Mustapha said President Muhammadu Buhari and his supporters is not fazed by plans of the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to challenge the result of last Saturday’s presidential election in court.

Buhari polled 15,191,847 to defeat Atiku and 71 others.

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said Atiku garnered 11,262,978 to place second in the poll. 

On Wednesday, Atiku formally rejected the result, with a declaration that it was not free, fair and that the presidential election was fraught with irregularities. The former vice president said based on that,  he would challenge the outcome in court.

Mustapha told State House Correspondents on Wednesday night, after a thank-you dinner for Buhari’s presidential campaign organisation in the Presidential Villa, that they are not fazed by PDP’s legal route.

“We are not jittery at all because the process was open and transparent. It was a credible election and we will continue to savour the victory but, in the process, too, we will extend the hand of friendship for the purpose of nation-building and reconciliation.

“Our Electoral Act and the constitution have both provided a window for whoever is dissatisfied with the process of election to seek redress. That is the path and we will encourage them to go along that path,” he said.

Mustapha assured Nigerians that president Buhari will do more for them in his second term, especially in the area of infrastructure development.

He said: “He will stand on the three pivot points that he pushed forward in 2015; securing the nation, diversifying the economy and also fighting corruption with all intensity.

Abdulsalami, Kukah meet Osinbajo, Atiku, Obi, others

In a related development, former military Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese,  Matthew Kukah, and other members of the National Peace Committee convened a meeting with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Atiku and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi, in Abuja, yesterday.

Others at the meeting included Senate President, Bukola Saraki; PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other PDP leaders, Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Rev. Fr Atta Barkindo, of the NPC Secretariat.

The meeting came on the heels of Atiku’s decision, on Wednesday, to challenge Buhari’s victory in court.

After the meeting with Atiku and the PDP dlegation, the former Nigerian leader and his delegation headed to the Villa, where they met with Osinbajo.

Shortly after meeting with the PDP, Abdulsalami explained why the Peace Committee met with the PDP: “Tensions are high in the country and e have come to see how to douse the tension.

“We have met with the PDP and we have listened to their grievances…”