Twenty-seven states and the Federal Capital Territory have yet to establish committees to facilitate the implementation of the recently approved N70,000 minimum wage.
According to The PUNCH, the states lagging in this process include Plateau, Kebbi, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Delta, Osun, Ekiti, Zamfara, Benue, Enugu, Taraba, Gombe, Kogi, Adamawa, Niger, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Katsina, Kaduna, Cross River, and Yobe.
Conversely, seven other states — Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Borno, Jigawa, Ondo, and Abia — have formed implementation committees. Meanwhile, only Lagos and Edo have reported that they have begun disbursing the new minimum wage.
President Bola Tinubu enacted the new minimum wage law on July 29, 2024, following consultations with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.
Speaking on the incident, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, stated that the state had been paying above the minimum wage even before it became law.
He explained, “When you look at the minimum wage that was paid in Lagos before, the least state worker earned about N77,000. So, if they said the minimum wage is now N70,000, we have no problem with it at all because Lagos has been paying more than that, and we will continue to pay.”
Similarly, the Edo State Government confirmed that it had commenced payment of the minimum wage.
Kwara, Kano, and Others Form Committees
On August 1, 2024, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who also serves as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, constituted an 18-member tripartite committee to determine the modalities for the new minimum wage payment.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, reported that the committee, which includes representatives from the state government, labour unions, and the Organised Private Sector, has already begun its deliberations.
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano also established an advisory committee to address the new minimum wage, while Jigawa State formed a 10-member minimum wage committee on Thursday, August 8.
The Borno State Government recently inaugurated a 22-member panel, while the Ondo State government indicated that its committee was diligently working on the new minimum wage’s implementation.
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed that the state had earlier created a committee to provide advice on the matter.
He stated, “Oyo State government set up a committee a few months ago, comprising labour stakeholders and government officials, to advise on the implementation of the minimum wage.”
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, remarked on Friday that the state had formed a committee even before the Federal Government signed the bill into law, adding, “We are making provisions for the salary increase in line with the new minimum wage.”
However, Gombe State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Inuwa Yahaya, voiced concerns about the state’s ability to pay the new wage due to limited financial resources.
During a Tuesday meeting with stakeholders on the nationwide protest, ‘#EndBadGovernance,’ Yahaya said, “I cannot pay the N70,000 minimum wage, and I suspect many other states are in the same predicament.”
Similarly, Kogi State’s Commissioner for Finance, Ashiwaju Ashiru Idris, acknowledged that the state had not yet set a date for implementing the new wage, stating he had no information on when payment would commence.
Also,bPlateau State Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, noted that the government would finalize its stance on the issue after negotiating with organized labor.
Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, also expressed readiness to engage in meaningful discussions with state union leaders regarding the new minimum wage.
His Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris, conveyed that “By the grace of God, our governor will sit with the labour union and come out with modalities to ensure that he puts a smile on the faces of the civil servants.”
During a recent town hall meeting on the nationwide protest, Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, pledged to implement the new minimum wage, saying, “On our part, I want to assure you that the Sokoto State Government is ready to implement the new National minimum wage as approved by Mr. President. Undoubtedly, our country is facing quite a number of challenges that include economic downturn, inflation, cost of living, as well as insecurity, among other challenges.”
Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant to Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, mentioned that the state government had initiated plans to commence payment.
The Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor, Daniel Alabrah, noted on Thursday in Yenagoa that Governor Douye Diri had previously, during the Workers’ Day celebrations, committed to paying any amount agreed upon by the Federal Government and labor.
However, he clarified that the state may not be able to pay any arrears since the new minimum wage was only recently signed into law.
The spokesperson for the Osun State Governor, Rasheed Olawale, revealed that a committee to implement the minimum wage would be established in the upcoming week.
He assured, “Mr Governor has before now said Osun will pay the minimum wage as he is committed to the welfare of the workers and the people generally. A committee on the implementation of the minimum wage will be set up next week. We are committed to it.”
Delta State’s Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, also confirmed that the state would soon establish a committee for the new minimum wage.
Similarly, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia affirmed his administration’s commitment to paying the new minimum wage and vowed to eliminate leakages to ensure its successful implementation.
