Nigerian governors across the 36 states in the country have set the new minimum wage for civil servants
The governors made their decision known when they met under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to deliberate on the economic landscape and the ongoing discourse surrounding the minimum wage.
Among the considerations were proposals ranging from the initially offered N60,000 by the qFederal Government to the existing N70,000 implemented by the Edo State Government.
According to the governors, no state can afford any amount above that.
Despite their concerted efforts, a unanimous decision on a standardized wage remained elusive.
Consequently, they have opted to establish a committee, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, tasked with evaluating the available options and presenting recommendations.
Insiders reveal that the consensus among the governors is that a minimum wage of N100,000 is not viable, particularly considering that some states continue to grapple with meeting the current N30,000 minimum wage introduced in 2019.
“Records available to us indicated that some states are still paying N18,000 because they are unable to afford N30,000 (which came into effect in 2019). Only a state has adopted a N70,000 wage,” the source said.
The governors’ position is in line with a previous statement made by the Chairman of NGF and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who stated that states will only agree to a minimum wage that is “affordable and sustainable”.
The governors said the N60,000 minimum wage for workers is not sustainable.
In a statement issued on Friday by Halimah Salihu Ahmed, director of media and public affairs for NGF, the governors said the proposed minimum wage of N60,000 “cannot fly”.
The governors said many state governments would spend their entire allocation paying salaries, noting that there would be nothing left for developmental purposes.
“However, the Forum urges all parties to consider the fact that the minimum wage negotiations also involve consequential adjustments across all cadres, including pensioners,” the statement reads.
“The NGF cautions parties in this important discussion to look beyond just signing a document for the sake of it; any agreement to be signed should be sustainable and realistic.
“All things considered, the NGF holds that the N60,000 minimum wage proposal is not sustainable and cannot fly.
“A few states will end up borrowing to pay workers every month. We do not think this will be in the collective interest of the country, including workers.
“We appeal that all parties involved, especially the labour unions, consider all the socioeconomic variables and settle for an agreement that is sustainable, durable, and fair to all other segments of society who have legitimate claims to public resources.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency had debunked claims that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, submitted a N105,000 new minimum wage proposal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The President met yesterday with Edun after an audience with an International Finance Corporation (IFC) team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
It was gathered that Edun submitted the proposal for a new wage for the least-paid Nigerian worker to the President.
However, reports published by some online media platforms claimed that the minister proposed N105,000.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the N105,000 proposal as false.
“The Honorable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has not proposed N105,000 minimum wage.
“The contrary story being disseminated is false”, Onanuga wrote on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle.
