The Nigerian Governors Forum has rejected the proposed N60,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers, citing sustainability concerns.
According to The PUNCH, the NGF expressed sympathy with labour unions’ push for higher wages but urged consideration of socioeconomic factors and realistic negotiations.
The governors argued that adopting the N60,000 minimum wage would lead to states allocating their entire federal funds to salaries, leaving no resources for development projects.
The statement read in part, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum is in agreement that a new minimum wage is due. The Forum also sympathises with labour unions in their push for higher wages.
“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 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 can not fly. It will simply mean that many states will spend all their FAAC allocations on just paying salaries with nothing left for development purposes. In fact, 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.”
The NGF urged all parties involved in the negotiation process, particularly the labour unions, to take into account all socioeconomic factors and reach a sustainable agreement.
It stated, “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 the society who have a legitimate claim to public resources.”
The organised labour had vowed to reject any minimal increase to the N60,000 offer proposed by the tripartite committee on the new minimum wage.
President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, reiterated this stance during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
The organised labour groups, including the TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress, suspended their industrial action, which began on Monday, after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government.
The government assured them that President Bola Tinubu is committed to a minimum wage higher than the N60,000 previously offered.
Less than 24 hours after the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, presented the cost implications of a new minimum wage to the President, the governors agreed that a new minimum wage is due.
