Just when you think you’ve seen it all in Nigeria, our dear governors find new ways to surprise us. The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has decided that N60,000 as a minimum wage for workers is just too much. Yes, you heard that right. These same governors, who happily pocket various extravagant allowances, think that paying workers a mere N60,000 is asking for too much. Maybe it’s time we use their allowances to pay salaries since they seem to have “unfortunated” themselves into thinking this is a bad idea.
What They Are Saying
In a statement issued on Friday by Halimah Salihu Ahmed, the NGF’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, the governors expressed that the proposed minimum wage is unsustainable. They argue that if the N60,000 minimum wage is adopted, states would have to use their entire Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds just to pay salaries, leaving nothing for development projects.
The statement reads, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum agrees that a new minimum wage is due. We sympathize with labor unions pushing for higher wages. However, this negotiation also involves adjustments across all cadres, including pensioners. Any agreement signed should be sustainable and realistic.”
The NGF insists that the N60,000 minimum wage proposal “cannot fly.” They claim it will force states to spend all their FAAC allocations on salaries, with some even borrowing to pay workers every month. The NGF believes this isn’t in the country’s best interest, including the workers’.
The NGF urges all involved, especially labor unions, to consider all socioeconomic factors and reach a sustainable agreement. “We appeal to all parties, particularly the labor unions, to settle for an agreement that is fair to all segments of society who have a legitimate claim to public resources,” the statement concluded.
Why It Matters
Meanwhile, organized labor, led by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), is standing firm on the N60,000 offer. TUC President Festus Osifo, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, reiterated their stance. The labor groups suspended their strike after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government, which assured that President Bola Tinubu is committed to a minimum wage higher than N60,000.
In less than 24 hours after Finance Minister Wale Edun presented the cost implications of a new minimum wage to President Tinubu, the governors suddenly agreed that a new minimum wage is indeed due.
Bottom Line
So, here we are, with governors who see no problem with their hefty allowances but think workers asking for a decent wage is too much. It’s a classic case of priorities turned upside down.
