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Minimum wage: Allow each state to determine what it can pay—Governors
By: Adisa Deborah
Governors from Nigeria’s southern region, known as the Southern Governors’ Forum, have called on each state to assess its ability to pay the new minimum wage. The Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, would continue to work with stakeholders to find a mutually acceptable solution. The vice president and President Bola Tinubu have not responded to the new minimum salary.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja reviewed minimum wage concerns, concluding that it should reflect the cost of life while allowing each state to negotiate its own minimum pay. Governors from 36 states, including Oyo, Zamfara, Anambra, Delta, Gombe, Kano, Imo, Kwara, Ondo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Sokoto, and Ogun, have agreed to stay committed to the process and ensure that continuing negotiations result in higher wages.
President Bola Tinubu formed a tripartite commission to negotiate a new minimum wage for workers, including the Organised Private Sector. However, the committee failed to reach an agreement, resulting in indefinite industrial action. The National Assembly, banks, and state assemblies were all affected. The Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress resumed negotiations, but labor eventually reduced its strike.
The National Assembly is scheduled to receive an executive bill on a new minimum wage, with both the administration and labor parties providing reports. The President is scheduled to decide on the N62,000 plan and the N250,000 demand from Labour. Workers, on the other hand, are becoming dissatisfied with the delay in setting the wage, putting pressure on labor leaders to announce industrial action to speed things up.
Labor leaders in public sector unions have expressed concern about the hardships faced by civil servants as a result of the lengthy delay in the minimum wage and the elimination of subsidies. They believe that the government’s failure to offer palliative care, as well as uneven payments from state governors and the federal government, have exacerbated their living conditions. The workers are becoming agitated and want immediate action, possibly industrial action, to settle the problem. Both public and private sector employees are expressing their concerns.
The Tripartite Committee on the New Minimum Wage and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) are working to alleviate workers’ dissatisfaction with the delay in deciding the minimum wage. The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, led by Prince Adewale Adeyanju, has urged workers to remain calm and continue their plea to the National Assembly. The process of submitting the minimum wage to the National Assembly is still ongoing, and the Assembly is awaiting the President’s final approval on the issue.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) voiced concern with President Bola Tinubu’s delay in convening a tripartite committee to discuss the new minimum wage. They said that Tinubu vowed to establish a living wage for Nigerian workers during his campaign. SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, highlighted that consultation should have taken place before the tripartite committee’s findings, rather than at this time. SSANU members attended the NEC meeting in Benin, Edo state.
Economic pressures have increased stress levels among Nigerian workers. Labor leaders, who are Nigerians, inevitably contribute to the problem. The President should speak with labor leaders to address arrears. Workers should feel safe and cared for, but if they are disabled or hungry, they may become angry and indisciplined. The President should expedite consultations to avoid arrears building and ensure timely payments.
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