Governors Advocate for State-Specific Minimum Wage Negotiations
Governors from the Southern part of Nigeria, under the aegis of the Southern Governors’ Forum, have called for each state to negotiate its own minimum wage based on its financial capacity.
This call comes amidst ongoing discussions by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to find a solution to the new minimum wage crisis.
At the 142nd National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu was present but did not address the minimum wage issue.
Vice President Kashim Shettima also remained silent on the matter. The lack of communication on this topic has added to the concerns of organized labor, which has warned that workers in both the public and private sectors are becoming increasingly restive due to delays in concluding the new minimum wage negotiations.
In a 16-point communique issued on Thursday, the Southern Governors’ Forum emphasized that the minimum wage should reflect the cost of living and that states should have the flexibility to negotiate directly with labour unions.
“The Forum discussed the minimum wage issues demanded by labor and unanimously agreed that the minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living and that each state should be allowed to negotiate its minimum wage,” the communique stated.
Following a meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum in Abuja, governors from the 36 states promised to remain dedicated to the negotiation process and assured that better wages would result from ongoing discussions.
The meeting included governors from Oyo, Zamfara, Anambra, Delta, Gombe, Kano, Imo, Kwara, Ondo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Sokoto, and Ogun States, as well as deputy governors from Akwa Ibom, Osun, and Borno States.
In a communique signed by NGF chairman and governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governors reaffirmed their commitment to engaging with key stakeholders to reach a mutually agreeable solution.
“We remain dedicated to the process and assure that better wages will result from the ongoing negotiations,” the communique read.
Earlier this year, President Tinubu established a tripartite committee to negotiate a new minimum wage for workers, comprising representatives from organized labor, federal and state governments, and the Organized Private Sector (OPS).
However, the committee has struggled to reach an agreement, leading labor unions to declare an indefinite industrial action on June 3, 2024, which paralyzed businesses across the country.
The labour unions have argued that the current minimum wage of N30,000 is insufficient to support an average Nigerian worker, given the current inflationary pressures and the effects of recent economic policies such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of the forex windows.
Following assurances from President Tinubu, labor unions suspended their strike on June 4, 2024, with the President committing to a living wage above N60,000.
However, subsequent negotiations have seen labor reduce their demand to N250,000, while the government has increased its offer to N62,000.
Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, criticized the delay and called for expedited consultations.
“The President campaigned on the promise of a living wage, and this unnecessary delay is disappointing. Consultation should have been done earlier. Workers are feeling the heat, and their welfare needs to be prioritized,” Ibrahim stated.
