The state governors have, through the forum, said they would not pay beyond their individual capacity.
The labour unions in Nigeria have disagreed with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage across the state.
The state governors have, through the forum, said they would not pay beyond their individual capacity.
Kayode Fayemi, the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, after the meeting of the forum in Abuja, said the federal government could not determine what happens in the state.
Fayemi stated, “The forum as the representative body of the states keenly followed what happened in the negotiations that led to that template.
“As far as we are concerned, the best the forum can do is to stick with what has been agreed with the states. States are part of the tripartite negotiations.
“The FEC does not determine what happens in the states. Each state has an executive council which is the highest decision-making organ in the state.
“As far as we are concerned, the states were part of the tripartite discussion and agreed to the N30,000 minimum wage.
“States also know there will be consequential adjustments, but that will be determined by what happens on the state by state basis because there are different numbers of workers at states. There are different issues at the state level. Every state has its own trade unions and joint negotiations committee and they will undertake discussions with
their state governments.”
The governor said there was a difference between the national minimum wage increase and the general wage review.
Fayemi said, “This is about minimum wage increment; yes that may necessitate consequential increment, there is no doubt about it, but that is a matter between the states and their workers.
“The day after this agreement was reached with labour, it was on record that I was on national television and made the position of the governors clear. That for us this was a national minimum wage increase, not a general minimum wage review. Yes, that may necessitate consequential increment, we have no doubt about that but that it is a
matter for the states to discuss with their workers.”
However, reacting to the position of the Forum, the labour unions, berated the governors.
On its part, the Trade Union Congress said there was an assurance from
the Nigerian government that the official template for the adjustments would be released to labour this week.
The Secretary-General of the union, Origi Musa-Lawal, however, cautioned Fayemi.
He said, “The state governments are only playing games. They were represented in the minimum wage committee. They cannot come around to deny their responsibility. They are simply courting labour anger and we are ready for them.
“Guidelines have not been released by the federal government but certainly, we have assurances that the template will soon be released.”
The union and the federal government had on October 18, 2019, reached an agreement on the consequential adjustments in workers’ salaries arising from the new wage structure after about six months of negotiation.
Both parties agreed on 23.2 percentage increase for workers at grade level 07; 20 percent for those at grade level 08; 19 percent for workers at grade level 09; 16 percent for those at levels 10 to 14; and 14 percent for workers at grade levels 15 to 17.