Seventeen state governors have set up committees to implement the newly approved ₦70,000 minimum wage for workers. The states involved include Ogun, Ekiti, Sokoto, Kebbi, Osun, Enugu, Borno, Zamfara, Kogi, Kwara, Gombe, Kano, Taraba, Delta, Rivers, Jigawa, and Abia. This development follows the Federal Government’s recent commencement of the new wage payment for its 1.2 million workers.
In a memo to the Budget Office, the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, confirmed that federal workers would start receiving the new minimum wage from September.
Meanwhile, Edo, Lagos, and Adamawa states have also begun paying the new salary. Anambra state has pledged to implement the wage starting in October. The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Adamawa, Emmanuel Fashe, noted that Governor Ahmadu Fintiri began paying the new wage in August, ahead of the Federal Government.
Fashe explained that Adamawa state workers received the wage increase in August, while local government workers saw their pay rise in September due to adjustments needed to process the new wage structure. He emphasized the importance of adhering to federal wage agreements, recalling that Governor Fintiri had promised to match whatever was agreed upon by the Federal Government and the NLC.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, confirmed that the ₦70,000 minimum wage will be paid from October. He also announced a free education policy for senior students in all public schools, alongside promises to address outstanding pension and gratuity arrears.
However, not everyone sees the new wage as a reason to celebrate. A senior NLC official criticized the implementation, stating that the ₦70,000 minimum wage has already been devalued due to inflation and rising costs of essential goods like fuel and food. He argued that it amounts to a “starvation wage” and questioned why the wage implementation was backdated to July instead of May, as per the 2019 Minimum Wage Act.
In response to the wage implementation, several states have begun preparations or discussions. Imo, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun have expressed readiness to negotiate or implement the new wage, with many states awaiting reports from their respective committees. For instance, the Imo State NLC Chairman, Uche Chigamezu, confirmed that discussions with the government will begin soon, while the Ogun State government is awaiting its committee’s report.
In Delta and Bayelsa states, progress on wage implementation has been slower. Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, stated that his government is waiting for the new wage chart to avoid mistakes. Meanwhile, Bayelsa’s Governor Douye Diri has yet to follow through on a commitment to set up a wage implementation committee.
States like Sokoto, Kebbi, Enugu, and Zamfara have affirmed their commitment to pay the new wage, with each setting up committees to oversee the process. Governors in these states have pledged swift action once the reports from their committees are submitted.
In contrast, Kaduna and Kano states are still in the negotiation phase, with their respective NLC chapters urging state governments to expedite the process.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic challenges, the new minimum wage has become a critical issue. While some states are moving forward, others are still in the planning stages, raising concerns about the financial sustainability of the new wage across the federation.
This article is sourced from The Punch newspaper, with minor edits and adaptations by The Spectacles for clarity and readability.
