The Nigeria Labour Congress has firmly stated that State governors cannot determine their own minimum wage, labeling such an approach as divisive and likely to exacerbate poverty in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Friday titled ‘Governors cannot dictate what to pay!’ NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, criticized the notion as dictatorial and undermining the essence of a national minimum wage.
Upah urged President Bola Tinubu, who has committed to ensuring workers receive a living wage, to resist any pressure or manipulation from “unpatriotic governors.”
He emphasized that the concept of a national minimum wage is not arbitrary but represents a national wage floor, ensuring that no worker is paid below a certain baseline.
This threshold, according to him, is a collective agreement designed to secure a minimum standard of living for all workers by law.
Upah further argued that allowing governors to unilaterally set their state’s minimum wage contradicts the principle of a national wage floor and jeopardizes the welfare of workers and the national economy.
He warned that this approach could deepen poverty and lead to various forms of insecurity.
The NLC spokesperson compared the governors’ demands to permitting numerous companies to pay whatever they want, stressing that while salaries may vary, adherence to the national wage floor is mandatory.
Upah called on the federal government to address the issue of the national minimum wage decisively and urged governors to avoid dictatorial tendencies.
He reiterated that setting a minimum wage should be a tripartite process involving the government, workers, and private employers, guided by principles of equity and fairness.
“Ensuring a fair minimum wage is not only a matter of economic justice but also a fundamental aspect of maintaining social stability and national cohesion. Nigerian workers should not be reduced to beggars,” Upah stated.
He criticized the perception of workers’ salaries as charity and highlighted the importance of these salaries in driving the economy.
He condemned governors who prioritize their greed over the needs of citizens, accusing them of ignorance regarding global best practices for a national minimum wage.
“We are deeply concerned by this blatant display of ignorance regarding the global best practices for a national minimum wage by some of these Governors. It is evident that despite their frequent travels abroad, they have deliberately chosen not to educate themselves on fundamental global issues crucial to successful governance. This level of self-imposed ignorance on basic industrial relations matters illustrates why our nation is poorly governed, resulting in the unacceptable suffering of Nigerians,” Upah added.
In contrast, state governors from southern Nigeria, under the Southern Governors’ Forum, have called for considering the cost of living and each state’s ability to pay in negotiating a new minimum wage.
In a communique from their recent meeting in Abeokuta, Oguntuga State capital, they advocated for each state to have the autonomy to negotiate wages with labor unions.
