Minimum Wage: ₦70k is Unaffordable for Gombe State – Gov Yahaya

Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has announced that the state cannot afford to implement the recently approved ₦70,000 minimum wage, citing limited financial resources.

The governor made this statement during a meeting with stakeholders at the Gombe Government House’s banquet hall, where discussions centered on the planned nationwide #Endbadgovernance protest.

“I cannot pay the ₦70,000 minimum wage, and I suspect many other states are in the same predicament,” Yahaya stated, expressing concern that the financial burden would be too great for Gombe State and others.

Governor Yahaya also took the opportunity to express gratitude to the Federal Government for its rice donation initiative, which is aimed at providing relief to the states. However, he raised concerns about the delayed delivery of these supplies. “We are yet to receive the Federal Government’s 20 trucks of rice allocated to Gombe State,” he noted.

Despite this delay, the governor reaffirmed Gombe State’s commitment to supporting its citizens through previous palliative distributions and ongoing investments in human capital development, education, health, and agriculture.

Addressing the planned protest, Yahaya emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and order. “We acknowledge the role of civil society organizations, labor unions, and traders in maintaining social stability and economic resilience,” he said, urging for continued cooperation and dialogue to navigate the challenging times ahead.