Independence Day: Nigerian Govt Denies Rumoured New Wage, Palliative
Lalong has called on members of the public to ignore the new wage report, stressing that it was a total fabrication by the reporter to suit the narrative of the interests best known to the newspaper
Joy Kalu 
The Federal Government has said the report that President Bola Tinubu would announce a wage award to workers on Independence Day is untrue.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, made the clarifications in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, by Mr Olajide Oshundun, Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour.
He called on members of the public to ignore the report, stressing that it was a total fabrication by the reporter to suit the narrative of the interests best known to the newspaper.
He said: "The attention of the Ministry of Labour and Employment has been drawn to reports circulating online claiming that the President will announce wage awards and palliatives to workers during his October 1st Independence Day speech.
“The report, which is said to have emanated from a purported interview with the Director of Information in the ministry, claimed that a last-minute meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday between the Federal Government and Labour to avert the proposed strike.
“We wish to categorically state that the report is false and misleading as at no time did the Director of Information make such disclosure."
He added that, for the benefit of the doubt, it is important to stress that the Director of Information at the ministry does not speak for the President.
