By Enyichukwu Enemanna
As Organised Labour in Nigeria makes fresh proposal for N497,000 ($343.35) to the Federal Government as minimum wage, a shift from the previous N615,000 ($424.87), Zamfara state, North West Nigeria says it will commence the implementation of the expired N30,000 ($20.73) next month.
The state, rich in agriculture has been paying N7,000 as minimum wage to its workforce. The current Minimum Wage Act of N30,000 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
The Act is to be reviewed every five years to meet with contemporary economic demands of workers. But nearly fives years since it was signed, Zamfara was yet to commence implementation.
The governor during a meeting with the leadership of the labour unions in Zamfara State however announced readiness to commence implementation of the outdated minimum wage.
A statement by the spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that implementing the minimum wage reflects the state government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare.
While addressing the leaders of the Zamfara State chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Governor Dauda Lawal reiterated that implementing the N30,000 minimum wage is aimed at motivating Zamfara workers.
“Today, I want to announce to the Zamfara State Labour Union leaders that my government will commence payment of 30 thousand Naira minimum wage next month in June.
“Since assuming office as the governor of Zamfara State, my administration has implemented numerous civil service reforms to ensure workers’ welfare.
“We have achieved the payment of withheld three months salaries of workers, payment of leave grant, and other bonuses.
“My government has paid a total of N4,337,087,490 billion in four batches to state and local government retirees, which have not been paid since 2011.
“We have further plans to improve the efficiency of the civil service in Zamfara. No employee should be concerned about retirement, as we will ensure timely payment of retirement benefits without any delays. We are committed to our rescue mission.”
Heritage Times HT reports that the Federal Government and the Organised Private Sector have also jointly proposed the sum of N57,000 as minimum wage, rejecting Labour’s N497,000.
President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, on January 30, 2024, inaugurated the 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage to come up with a new minimum wage ahead of the expiration of the current N30,000 wage on April 18.
State governors have repeatedly said they will agree on a minimum wage based on their financial capacity, saying the federal government cannot decide for them.
In South South Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has indicated readiness to pay the sum of N70,000 as minimum wage to workers in the state.
