Although some state governors have agreed to pay the new monthly national minimum wage of N70,000, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced on Thursday, they will take a collective decision at a meeting soon.
Feelers from the Government Houses across the states and top government officials indicated that their principals were awaiting the details of the new wage before declaring their stand.
One of the sources said the 36 state governors under the aegis of Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF) will soon meet to take a common position on the federal government’s approved N70,000 minimum wage for workers in the country.
Though the NGF chairman and governor of Kwara State AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq could not be reached for comments on the development, a source close to NGF told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the governors will need time to make their position known.
He said, “The NGF chairman will need to consult with his peers before commenting on this matter. That’s the beauty of democracy. The issue is a national one and not about Kwara as a state. So, please exercise a little patience. After due consultations, I’m sure the NGF will make its position on the new minimum wage public.”
A senior aide to Governor Peter Mbah of Anambra State said the governor was willing to make the state and local government workers happy following Tinubu’s approval of a new minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers.
The aide said the state executive council would meet to discuss the new wage.
“You know this matter was only approved yesterday (Thursday). And we still need to hold the state executive council meeting. This means a decision will be taken once the matter is discussed.
“But as you already know, Governor Mbah is willing to make Enugu workers happy, and in doing that, he will not pay ghost workers and ghost pensioners.
“That’s why you have seen various verifications done to ensure that the workers we’re paying are those working for Enugu State,” the official said.
Also, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has declared that his administration will implement the new minimum wage agreed upon.
The governor, who disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Makurdi, said his administration had blocked all the leakages of the state funds.
The governor said that his administration is focused and had put up measures to make things function.
He said, “Though with the harsh economy, things have stagnated, but with all the plans and measures in place for things to function, things are moving, and even our internally generated revenue has increased.
“It’s now left for us to close all loopholes to see how much we can cash in to do other things, even to pay salary,” Alia said.
He added, “We can pay (minimum wage) with all-purpose and intent; the sub-nationals should be able to key in. Civil servants are the engine room of every state. Without them, any government will not have good governance, so we need to pay our civil servants with what is approved by the federal government and organised labour.”
In Anambra State, the governor’s chief press secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, said he needed time to ascertain the governor’s view on the new wage.
When contacted on Friday on the position of his principal (Chukwuma Soludo), Aburime said, “I am still waiting for the governor (Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s) position on the matter. When he makes the position of the state government known, I will let you know.”
When our correspondent asked if they were comfortable with the arrangement, the Plateau State commissioner for information and communication, Hon. Musa Ashoms said,” The state government will soon make its position known via a statement. That is what I can say for now.”
In Akwa Ibom State, the information commissioner, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, said Governor Umo Eno is a worker-friendly leader and would not disappoint the workforce in the new wage regime.
He said, “When something like this happens, it must be discussed at the governors’ forum for a common position. And our governor, who is worker-friendly, will not disappoint based on his disposition so far in terms of regular payment of gratuities and other entitlements to civil servants.”
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said he will pay the new minimum wage.
The governor’s special adviser (media), Sulaiman Olanrewaju, said the state government would implement the new minimum wage.
He recalled that the governor had promised to pay whatever the federal government and labour agreed on.
The Imo State government also expressed its readiness to comply with the N70,000 benchmark approved by the federal government.
The commissioner for information and orientation, Hon. Declan Emelumba, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that “we have no option but to comply with the agreement,” adding that the state government will continue to support programmes and policies aimed at improving workers’ welfare.
Emelumba, however, submitted that the Hope Uzodimma administration would have to look inward and think outside the box to meet the workers’ expectations.
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum assured the workers that he would abide by any agreement reached between labour and the federal government.
The governor gave the assurance at a stakeholders meeting held yesterday in Maiduguri.
He said, “I will abide by any agreement reached between the federal government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the minimum wage.”
In Gombe State, the media aide to the governor, Isma’ila Uba Misilli, said it was “pretty too early to comment. We are yet to get the governors’ reaction (Northern Governors Forum).”
Governor Inuwa Yahaya doubles as the chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum.
When contacted on whether the governors agreed to the minimum wage before the president announced it, a senior Ministry of Labour and Employment official said they were adequately represented in the Tripartite Negotiating Committee.
The official, who sought anonymity, added that President Tinubu, a democrat and a progressive, could not have done it alone.
He said the decision is binding on the state governments, adding that once the National Assembly (NASS) gets the bill on the new wage bill, passes it, and the president assents to it, it becomes a law that all stakeholders must obey.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has fully accepted the ₦70,000 new minimum wage as proposed by the federal government.
Their position was made known in a communique issued on Friday night at the end of its emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
The Communique, which was signed by the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, commended the efforts and leadership of the Congress on the way it handled the negotiations which led to the celebrated outcome.
The NEC, further demanded the full and strict implementation of the National Minimum Wage 2024 , when it eventually becomes an act.
The communique explained that that the N70,000 offered is far lower than its initial demand, they accepted the offer to avert a threat a further hike in the price of petroleum which would have further inflicted hardship on Nigerians
