The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress may shut down activities in the affected states from Monday in Katsina, Cross River, and Zamfara states over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000, after the Imo State Government sanctioned the implementation of the N70,000 wage on Tuesday.
It was learned that the remaining states yet to implement the N70,000 minimum wage for workers are making last-minute moves to ensure the Nigeria Labour Congress does not embark on strike on Monday, December 1.
Last month, the Katsina State Government inaugurated a 15-member committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Faskari, and was given three weeks to present strategies and recommendations, including the consequential adjustments for all categories of workers for the implementation of a new minimum wage of N70,000.
The committee includes prominent state officials such as Falalu Bawale, the Head of Civil Service; the state Commissioners for Finance, Budget and economic planning; and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal, while inaugurating the committee, said the government was aware of the hardship being faced by civil servants in the state.
“You are all aware that His Excellency, the Governor, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda, has set up a committee to implement the N70,000 minimum wage consequential adjustment to all categories of workers in the state.
“This includes the state civil servants, the Local Government employees, and other categories of workers. The government is aware of the hardship being encountered by the civil servants,” he stated.
While the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state on Media and Communications, Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, said the state government would implement the new wage as soon as possible.
“The state government has already set up a committee to work out modalities for the implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000 but wanted to know the exact number of its civil servants and the amount involved before settling the new wage.
“The committee has gone far in its assignment and I am telling you that as soon as the committee finishes its assignment, Governor Lawal will surely implement the new wage,” he said.
Kaura stated that members of the committee included labour leaders and other stakeholders who were given the responsibility to work out the modalities on how best to implement the new wage.
“Governor Dauda Lawal is one of the civil servants’ friendly governors in the country.”
“Zamfara workers will never be left out in terms of the new minimum wage.
“I want you to remember that when he assumed office as the Governor of the state, he met the state’s civil servants collecting N18,000 as minimum wage.”
“He quickly directed the state’s ministry of finance to start implementing the N30,000 minimum wage which was done.’’
“So, I am assuring you that, the Governor will soon implement the new minimum wage for N70,000,” Kaura said.
Recall that in November, Governor Lawal reiterated his government’s resolve to pay the minimum wage after working out all necessary modalities.
“We have to know what comes in, the number of our workforce, and what we will pay as minimum wage,” adding, “The welfare of my workforce has been my priority since I assumed office.”
“When we came on board, for four months workers of the state had not been paid their salaries, and the first thing I did was to pay the workers.
“Today, as from the 25th of every month, I make sure that workers are paid. So, in other words, I spend about N5bn on wages every month. I paid my workers. I improved the salaries of local government staff as well as paid pensioners.
“So every month, I boost the state’s economy. If you go around, you will see how small traders are making brisk business from the goods they display in markets and streets,” He said.
Similarly, The Cross River State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Gregory Ulayi, said the union would embark on an indefinite strike if the state government failed to implement the new minimum wage for the workers.
“If the government does not negotiate and do the needful, we will embark on a total strike because it is a directive across the country,” Ulayi said.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Otu, Nsa Gill, said the state government had set up a committee to negotiate with the labour leaders, as part of last-ditch efforts to prevent the looming strike on Monday.
He said that despite the nationwide deadline for the implementation of the minimum wage, the Otu-led government was working to ensure payment of a minimum wage of N70,000 or even above.
“The state government has a negotiating team and they are at work. Though, they are yet to reach an agreement as at today (Thursday). The government is ready to pay the N70,000 new minimum wage, if not beyond.
“We recognise the fact that there is a national deadline from the labour union, which is slated for December 1, 2024, for all the states to pay the new minimum wage.
“We are trying to see how to build a stronger economic foundation that can make us pay a living wage to our civil servants. Until the team finishes the negotiation, the amount will not be announced. Right now, they are still on the negotiation table for an amicable resolution,” he said.
Thirty-three states and the Federal Capital Territory have complied with the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act, though many states agreed to pay above the N70, 000 with Lagos and Rivers offering the highest pay with N85, 000.
Lagos also announced that from the first quarter of 2025 workers in the state would earn N100, 000 monthly as minimum wage.
Workers in Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Oyo and Niger will earn N80, 000 while Delta and Ogun states approved N77, 000.
Ebonyi, Osun, Benue and Kebbi states approved N75,000; Ondo, N73,000; Kogi and Kaduna, N72,000; Kano and Gombe, N71,000.
Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Jigawa, Borno, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Taraba, Ekiti, Bauchi, Yobe, Imo and Plateau states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, all settled for N70, 000.
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