Minimum Wage: Govs working on what states can pay — NGF

ABUJA- THE 36 State governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, have disclosed that they are reviewing their individual fiscal space as state governments and the consequential impact of various recommendations, geared towards arriving at what they described as an improved minimum wage they can pay sustainably.

This came as the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, gave reasons organised labour is fronting N615,000 as the new national minimum wage, saying it is being magnanimous by not raising its demands despite compelling reasons to do so.

The governors said that they celebrate with workers across the country for their dedication to service and patience, as all have worked with the Federal Government, labour, organised private sector and relevant stakeholders in arriving at an implementable national minimum wage

According to the governors, while they acknowledge various initiatives adopted recently by way of wage awards and partial wage adjustments, it is imperative to state that the 37-member tripartite committee inaugurated on the National Minimum Wage is still in consultations and yet to conclude its work.

The governors added that they would remain committed to the process and promised that better wages would be the invariable outcome of their ongoing negotiations.

In a statement, yesterday by NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the end of the virtual meeting held Wednesday night, the state governors said they are committed to looking into issues bordering on remuneration of state judicial officers and the infrastructure of the courts.The statement read: “

We, members of the NGF, at our meeting held today, deliberated on various issues of national importance.

“The forum celebrates with workers across the country for their dedication to service and patience, as we work with the Federal Government, labour, organised private sector and relevant stakeholders in arriving at an implementable national minimum wage.

‘While we acknowledge various initiatives adopted recently by way of wage awards and partial wage adjustments, it is imperative to state that the 37-member tripartite committee inaugurated on the National Minimum Wage, is still in consultation and yet to conclude its work.

‘As members of the committee, we are reviewing our individual fiscal space as state governments and the consequential impact of various recommendations, to arrive at an improved minimum wage we can pay sustainably. We remain committed to the process and promise that better wages will be the inevitable outcome of ongoing negotiations.