Politics
Governors Reveal Amount They Can Pay As New Minimum Wage
Governors have agreed to increase the minimum wage from N18,000 to N22,500, which is not up to the expectation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The governor of Zamfara state and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abdulaziz Yari said he and his colleagues have agreed to pay N22,500 to workers.
Governor Yari explained that the acceptable minimum wage “must be done in such a way that total personnel cost does not exceed 50 per cent of the revenue available to each state.”
The Zamfara state governor said the forum is more concerned with the development in infrastructure, health, educational sectors.
His words: “The welfare of all Nigerians is our ultimate concern. In all our States, we are concerned about the deteriorating economic situation experienced by the vulnerable segment of our population,” Yari said.
“In agreeing to a National Minimum Wage, however, the Forum is even more concerned about development, particularly in the health, education and infrastructure spheres.
“It is therefore our considered position that since the percentage of salaried workers is not more than 5 per cent of the total working population, our position must not just reflect a figure, but also a sustainable strategy based on ability and capacity to pay, as well as reflective of all our developmental needs in each state.
“Afterall, Section 3 of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission Act provides that ‘the Commission shall recommend a proposition of income growth which should be initiated for wage increase and also examined the salary structure in public and private sector with reasonable features of relativity and maximum levels which are in consonance with the national economy.
“It is in this sense that we feel strongly that our acceptable minimum wage must be done in such a way that total personnel cost does not exceed 50 per cent of the revenue available to each State.
“Governors, therefore, agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500.”
Africa News 24 recalls that the organised labour had demanded an upward rise of the minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000, an amount the federal government said was not feasible.
However, the federal government had instead, proposed 24,000 while the state governments had earlier suggested N20,000 but labour rejected both proposals.
The meeting the federal government conveyed to discuss new minimum wage ended on an inconclusive note on Monday
Labour has threatened to declare a nationwide strike if the government fails to meet its demand.