Govs Pledge Better Wages As Minimum Wage Talks Continue

Nigerian governors have pledged their commitment to ensuring better wages as discussions on the New National Minimum Wage with the Organised Labour continue.

The assurance came during the 7th meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) which held Wednesday night in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The governors, representing all 36 states of the federation also agreed to maintain the ongoing engagement with key stakeholders to reach a mutually agreeable solution on the minimum wage issue.

While specific figures were not disclosed, the governors, through a communiqué issued by the Forum emphasised their dedication to the negotiation process.

“We remain committed to the process and assure that better wages will result from the ongoing negotiations,” stated the NGF in a communique signed by its chairman and governor of Kwara State,” AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq.

LEADERSHIP recalls that previously, the governors expressed concerns about the Federal Government’s proposed ₦60,000 minimum wage, deeming it unsustainable.

They argued that implementing such a wage would result in many states allocating their entire monthly federation account disbursements solely to salary payments.

The governors have urged the tripartite committee to agree on a fair and sustainable minimum wage.

In response to these concerns, the Federal Government announced on Tuesday that President Bola Tinubu would engage in further consultations before reaching a decision on the new minimum wage.

Also at the meeting on Wednesday night, the governors also engaged with representatives from the World Bank, the Presidential Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms Committee, and the Ministry of Women Affairs.

The World Bank’s Acting Country Director, Taimur Samad, presented various ongoing programmes in Nigerian states, including initiatives focused on human capital development, food security, women’s empowerment, and economic stimulus.

The governors expressed their commitment to supporting these programmes for effective implementation across the country.

Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, also briefed the Forum on the progress of ongoing fiscal and tax reforms.

The governors pledged their support for the successful implementation of these reforms and agreed to collaborate in addressing potential challenges.

The Minister of Women Affairs presented the World Bank-Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up and other ministry activities.

The governors emphasised the importance of implementing this project at the state level and acknowledged the ministry’s contributions to promoting gender equality and social development.