The Nigeria Labour Congress has mentioned penchant for wealth by the state governors was liable for their unreadiness to pay the brand new minimal wage.
That is simply because the NLC mentioned the state governors haven’t any excuse to not pay the N70,000 minimal wage.
In response to NLC, if the governors pays themselves the identical quantity of salaries, it’s a should for each one among them to pay the brand new wage.
The Nationwide Treasurer of the NLC, Akeem Ambali, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, mentioned it was an act of wickedness for any governor to say he couldn’t pay the minimal wage.
Ambali chided Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa, for declaring that the state couldn’t pay the brand new wage.
He mentioned, “Why would Gombe Governor be capable of pay himself wage of the identical quantity with that of Lagos and Rivers, however couldn’t pay the N70,000 minimal wage? It’s an act of wickedness and disrespect for employees who work day and evening to develop the state.
“All of us know the prevailing starvation within the land, it’s unlucky {that a} governor who lives in opulence, receiving greater than N500m safety vote, staying in free authorities lodging and paying himself improbable wage and can nonetheless obtain gratuity is saying he couldn’t pay the state employees N70,000 minimal wage.
“Employees usually are not slaves. His assertion doesn’t present responsive management. We are going to shut down any states that fail to pay minimal wage.
“Inside Might 29, 2023 and as we speak, allocations to states have elevated by over 120 per cent, they’ve additionally gotten infrastructure assist which doesn’t present any commensurate growth of their state.
“The penchant for wealth and lack of respect for what labour stands for is why governors are unwilling to pay the minimal wage.”
He referred to as on Nigerians, particularly these protesting in opposition to unhealthy governance to problem their numerous state governors how they’re managing the elevated allocation from the Federal Authorities.
Ambali mentioned the minimal wage was anticipated to take impact from Might.
He mentioned, “The previous minimal wage expired in April; labour expects that the efficient date for the minimal wage needs to be round Might 2024, however it’s negotiable.”
In the meantime, Sokoto State Authorities has promised that to implement the brand new minimal wage as accredited by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not too long ago.
The state governor, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, said this throughout a city corridor assembly on the proposed nationwide protest declared by some youths within the nation.
“On our half I wish to guarantee you that the Sokoto State Authorities is able to implement the brand new Nationwide minimal wage as accredited by Mr President
“Undoubtedly our Nation is dealing with fairly a variety of challenges that embody Financial down flip, Inflation, price of residing in addition to Insecurity amongst different challenges”.
The governor famous that it’s certainly apparent that the hardship being confronted by peculiar Nigerians has worsened there by making lives insufferable to many voters.
In response to him,costs of some important objects have now gone up far above the buying energy of a mean Nigerian, a scenario that has additional aggravated the issues being confronted within the nation as we speak” he added.
Recall that the Sokoto State Authorities was one of many few states within the nation at the moment implementing the 30,000 minimal wage for its workforce within the state civil service.
Additionally, the governor of Kebbi State, Dr Nasir Idris, disclosed his administration’s readiness to have a fruitful dialogue with the state union chief on the brand new minimal wage.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris, whereas talking with our correspondent on phone, mentioned the state governor was able to put smile on the faces of the state employees.
In Kogi State, the state Commissioner for Finance, Ashiwaju Ashiru Idris, mentioned no date had been fastened for the implementation of the N70,000 minimal wage signed into regulation not too long ago by President,Bola Tunubu.
Responding to our Correspondent’s enquiry as to when the state will start the fee of the minimal wage, the commissioner mentioned he had no details about when that may occur.
Additionally, the Nasarawa State authorities has expressed its readiness to align with the Federal Authorities of Nigeria on the brand new N70,000 nationwide minimal wage for employees within the nation.
Talking with our correspondent in Lafia on Wednesday, the Senior Particular Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, defined that the state authorities had rolled out plans to start the brand new fee to its employees.
He defined that the governor had lengthy assured employees within the state that, to make sure their monetary stability, he was keen to pay no matter quantity the federal authorities and the Organised Labour agrees to pay employees throughout the nation.
He mentioned, “The Nasarawa State authorities is totally prepared to start with the fee of N70,000 as agreed by the federal authorities of Nigeria.
“Governor Abdullahi Sule had made his place clear on this matter that he’s able to pay no matter is agreed between the FG and Organised Labour.
“So, employees within the state don’t have anything to fret about as a result of they are going to quickly begin having fun with the brand new nationwide minimal wage.”
In Kano State, the federal government has inaugurated an Advisory Committee on the New Nationwide Minimal Wage.
The state Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo inaugurated the committee on behalf of the governor on the Authorities Home.
Additionally talking on the matter, the Plateau State Authorities mentioned it was learning the N70,000 minimal wage supplied to employees by the Federal Authorities.
The state Commissioner for Data, Musa Ashoms, mentioned the federal government would make its place recognized on the matter after negotiation with the organised labour.
Talking with Saturday PUNCH, Ashoms mentioned, “Once we are prepared with our figures, we are going to make it recognized to the general public.
“We don’t function the identical or quantity with the Federal Authorities which has agreed with the N70,000 minimal wage. However I can inform you that we care about our civil servants and we care in regards to the welfare of our individuals”