The Governors of the 36 States of the Federation have told workers that they can only afford to pay N22,500 as the new National Minimum Wage.
The Governors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, announced the decision after their meeting on Tuesday night in Abuja.
While workers are angling for N30,000 as minimum wage, the Federal Government has offered N24,000.
The Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, told newsmen after the meeting: “Following a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum where we deliberated on the National Minimum Wage after a briefing from our representatives at the Tripartite Committee, we submit as follows:
“The welfare of all Nigerians is our ultimate concern. In all our States, we are concerned about the deteriorating economic situation experienced by the vulnerable segment of our population.
“In agreeing to a National Minimum Wage, however, the Forum is even more concerned about development, particularly in the health, education and infrastructure spheres.
“It is, therefore, our considered position that since the percentage of salaried workers is not more than five percent of the total working population, our position must not just reflect a figure, but also a sustainable strategy based on ability and capacity to pay, as well as reflective of all our developmental needs in each State.
“After all, Section 3 of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission Act provides that ‘the Commission shall recommend a proposition of income growth which should be initiated for wage increase and also examined the salary structure in public and private sector with reasonable features of relativity and maximum levels which are in consonance with the national economy’.
“It is in this sense that we feel strongly that our acceptable minimum wage must be done in such a way that total personnel cost does not exceed 50 percent of the revenue available to each State.
“Governors, therefore, agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500.”
