- Governors reaffirm commitment to improving worker wages, stating ongoing discussions regarding National Minimum Wage are still underway
- Tripartite committee evaluating fiscal capacities of states and potential impact of recommendations to determine sustainable minimum wage
The governors of the 36 states of Nigeria have reiterated their dedication to ensuring better wages for workers as negotiations continue.
In a communique issued after their virtual meeting, signed by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), the governors affirmed their commitment to the ongoing discussions regarding the National Minimum Wage.
They highlighted that the 37-member tripartite committee tasked with this matter is still engaged in consultations and has not yet concluded its deliberations.
The communique stated, “As committee members, we are evaluating our fiscal capacities as state governments and assessing the potential impact of various recommendations to determine an improved minimum wage that can be sustainably paid.”
Emphasizing their dedication to the negotiation process, the governors assured that better wages would eventually result from the ongoing discussions.
This reaffirmation follows calls from organized labor for an increase in the minimum wage to N615,000, which aligns with the current economic conditions characterized by rising prices of essential goods and services.
At the Workers’ Day celebration, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo, urged the government to finalize the implementation of the new national minimum wage by the end of May, warning of potential confrontation if this timeline is not met.
The NLC further criticized the recently announced salary increments for public servants, deeming them insufficient.