Labour Prepares For Confrontation With States Not Paying Wage Award

Despite efforts to cushion the impact of subsidy removal, certain states are yet to initiate payments under the wage award scheme, prompting the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to vow action against such states.

Following the withdrawal of petrol subsidy, both the Federal Government and several states have introduced measures, including the wage award, to alleviate the burden. While the Federal Government has been disbursing N35,000 monthly to its workers for five months, only 14 states have begun payments, ranging from N10,000 to N35,000.

In Minna, Niger State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urged non-paying states to emulate the federal model until the Tripartite Committee concludes its work on the New Minimum Wage.

In response, Governor Umaru Bago announced Niger State’s adoption of the wage award, with workers set to receive N20,000 starting this month. Additionally, Kwara, Gombe, and Rivers states are among those honoring the wage award, with payments ranging from N10,000 to N30,000.

This brings the total number of participating states to 14, contrary to earlier reports citing only 10 paying states. TUC President Festus Osifo commended the paying states but expressed concern over the non-compliance of others, especially given the recent substantial revenue allocations.

Osifo emphasized the need for collective action and hinted at forthcoming discussions on the matter.

Gombe State’s Director-General of Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, affirmed the state’s adherence to the wage award, highlighting Gombe’s proactive approach in addressing civil servants’ challenges post-subsidy removal.

Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara has been implementing the N30,000 wage award for state employees since assuming office, with plans to extend it to local government workers following a recent directive.

Similarly, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq has been disbursing N10,000 to state workers since August last year, extending the same amount to indigenous students since September.