Organized Labour has sharply criticized state governors for their stance on the ongoing minimum wage negotiations. The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) recently rejected the proposed N60,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers, arguing it is unsustainable.
Halimah Ahmed, NGF's Director of Media and Public Affairs, stated that adopting the N60,000 minimum wage would force many states to allocate all their Federal Account Allocation Committee funds to salaries, leaving no money for development projects.
In response, Organized Labour, represented by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), called for full implementation of the new minimum wage agreement. TUC's Deputy National President, Tommy Etim, urged governors who can't meet the wage demands to resign. He emphasized that governance is not just about infrastructure but also about ensuring citizens' well-being.
Etim criticized the governors for their campaign promises, noting they did not disclose their inability to pay fair wages. He warned that the NGF's stance could lead to industrial unrest, pointing out past discrepancies in their claims about wage payments and state finances.
The NLC also condemned the governors' actions, accusing them of bad faith and highlighting the increased FAAC allocations, which they argue should enable the payment of a reasonable national minimum wage. They suggested that reducing governance costs and curbing corruption could provide the necessary funds to meet the wage demands.
