The 36 state governors, part of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), have stated that the suggested N60,000 minimum wage is unrealistic and cannot be applied.

The governors believe that if they accept this wage, some states would need to borrow money monthly to pay their workers.

They explained that maintaining the N60,000 minimum wage would mean using all their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds on salaries, leaving no money for development.

This stance was clarified in a statement by NGF’s acting Director of Media and Public Affairs, Hajiya Halimah Ahmed, titled, “The forum’s stand on the N60,000 minimum wage not sustainable: NGF”.

The Statement,

 “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum NGF, is in agreement that a new minimum wage is due.

“The Forum also sympathises with labour unions in their push for higher wages.

“However, the Forum urges all parties to consider the fact that the minimum wage negotiations also involve consequential adjustments across all cadres, including pensioners.

“The NGF cautions parties in this important discussion to look beyond just signing a document for the sake of it; any agreement to be signed should be sustainable and realistic.

“All things considered, the NGF holds that the N60,000 minimum wage proposal is not sustainable and cannot fly.

“It will simply mean that many states will spend all their FAAC allocations on just paying salaries with nothing left for development purposes.

“In fact, a few states will end up borrowing to pay workers every month. We do not think this will be in the collective interest of the country, including workers.

“We appeal that all parties involved, especially the labour unions, consider all the socio-economic variables and settle for an agreement that is sustainable, durable, and fair to all other segments of the society who have legitimate claim to public resources.”

Labour

Previously, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had paused their strike for five days.

The strike, which started on Monday, was to protest the Federal Government’s failure to approve a new minimum wage by May 31 and to reverse the increase in electricity tariffs.

Additionally, after a six-hour meeting with labour leaders in Abuja on Monday night, the Federal Government, represented by President Bola Tinubu, committed to a minimum wage higher than N60,000.

The agreement noted: “The President of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000; and the Tripartite Committee will meet daily for the next week to finalize an agreeable National Minimum Wage.”

Labour leaders also agreed to meet and consider this new offer, ensuring no worker would be punished for joining the strike.

These agreements were signed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.