The National Council of State has ratified the federal government’s decision to set a new minimum wage of N18, 000 for the nation’s workers, at an emergency meeting held in Abuja yesterday. President Goodluck Jonathan has also been asked to forward a bill to that effect to the National Assembly.
The governors have however urged the president to initiate a process that will remove the issue of minimum wage from the exclusive list, so that states can independently negotiate workers’ pay based on their individual financial capacity.
While briefing newsmen on the outcome of the council meeting, which was chaired by the president and attended by former heads of state, the governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje explained that the council agreed to support the president’s wage plan because, “it is in the interest of workers and the Nigerian economy, so that our workers can live decent lives and ensure that the problem between labour and government is resolved.
“Council deliberated extensively on the issue of the national minimum wage for the Nigerian workers and council resolved to advice Mr. President to send a Bill to the National Assembly requesting the National Assembly to enact the N18,000 as a minimum wage for workers because it has to be revisited. Our workers will live a very decent life. With this, I believe the problem between the government and the labour will be resolved finally. This is the position of the Council,” Mr. Goje said.
He said the decision on the new wage has been made binding on all the states and any organisation that employs over 50 workers.
The Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio said the council also noted the submissions from various states on their ability or otherwise to meet the newly approved minimum wage for workers.
“The council advised that the best approach for any deregulated minimum wage for the country, will be to tinker with the present constitutional provision and of course if the NASS want to effect any amendments, then the states in future could negotiate what their minimum wages will be so that it will reflect the true position of the federation. In due course, the law could be amended to allow states negotiate their own wage according to their capability. In the meantime, N18,000 per worker is what we have advised,” Mr Akpabio said.
We are not equal
Speaking on the fact that the minimum wage has remained on the exclusive list, the Gombe State governor said the resources available to the states in the country are not the same. “We are operating a federal system, states should be given the leverage to pay their workers in line with their peculiar situation,” Mr Goje said. “Others can decide to pay N40,000 per month, others can decide to negotiate downward according to their resources. But that can only be done if the constitution is amended. For now, the the minimum wage is binding on all governments and corporate bodies.”
The council was also briefed by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega on the preparations for the forthcoming elections.
Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, said the INEC chairman made a “clear and graphic presentation” of the commission’s intentions regarding next year’s polls and that “we are satisfied that INEC is fully prepared to conduct a free and fair election”.
Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola also added that Mr Jega’s presentation “shows a clear commitment to conducting free and fair polls.” He, however, added that “the big and next hurdle is the implementation of the plan which requires the participation of the stakeholders and compliance with the rules.” Former head of state, Muhammadu Buhari who was at the meeting, also commended the presentation by INEC although he observed too that implementation will be a serious challenge.
Other past presidents in attendance were Olusegun Obasanjo, Ernest Shonekan and Shehu Shagari.
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