The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has urged Christians to use the Easter celebration to pray for outgoing and incoming administrations in Nigeria.

Ngige said this in his Easter message to the nation’s workforce on Saturday in Abuja.

The Easter message was contained in a statement by Olajide Oshundun, a spokesperson for the ministry.

Mr Ngige solicited prayers for the outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to enable the completion of the foundation it initiated for the nation’s prosperity.

According to him, the incoming government equally needs prayers to ensure that it builds on the solid foundation established by the outgoing government through massive investment in physical and social infrastructure.

The minister used the opportunity to express gratitude to Nigerian workers for their faith and unalloyed support for the current administration and him as the minister of labour and employment.

Mr Ngige noted that the current administration reciprocated the support of workers by raising the minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000 in 2019.

“Also inserting a provision in the minimum wage law, making wage review automatic every five years, to meet the prevailing cost of living,’’ he said.

He restated the federal government’s approval of a pay rise for civil servants, which would take effect from January 1, 2023, adding that the provision was included in the 2023 budget.

Mr Ngige, however, sent his warm congratulations and best wishes to Christians as they marked the Easter celebration.

(NAN)