Some state governors on Wednesday lamented the poor state of the economy and low Internally Generated Revenue, saying these might negatively affect implementation of the new minimum wage in most states of the federation.
The governors, who spoke during May Day celebration in their states, said if they must implement the new wage law, workers must be prepared to pay tax while revenue generating agencies should be prepared to raise their game to improve their states’ finances.
However, from the body language of some of the governors during the celebrations, majority of the states might not be able to implement the new minimum wage of N30,000 due to the challenging economic climate.
For instance, Enugu State Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, told workers to pray for improved finances for his administration to be able to implement the minimum wage.
Ugwuanyi, who spoke during 2019 May Day celebration in the state, said his administration was committed to workers’ welfare and had made salary payment his top priority.
He said, “In as much as the government will remain true to its obligations, I will tell you the nation’s economy is not robust. I have taken notice of the new national minimum wage as signed into law, but workers should pray for improvement in financial resources of the state.
“We will ensure that these issues are comprehensively and satisfactorily addressed in concert with other relevant government agencies and departments.”
In their separate addresses, both chairmen of Trade Union Congress, Mr Chukwuma Igbokwe, and Nigerian Labour Congress, Mr Virginus Nwobodo, commended the cordial relationship between the government and labour, which they said had translated to improved workers’ welfare.
IGR must improve, says Ortom
Also, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, urged the revenue generating agencies to work harder to improve the state’s internally generated revenue drive.
In his address at the celebration of the 2019 Workers’ Day in Makurdi, Ortom said he would soon be meeting with labour on implementation of the new minimum wage.
The governor said he had set in motion machinery to work towards the payment of the arrears of salaries owed all Benue workers as well as pensioners.
The state Chairman of the NLC, Mr Godwin Anya, called on the governor to pay the salary arrears owed workers in the state and implement the new minimum wage.
Be prepared to pay tax, Umahi tells workers, others
But Ebonyi State Governor, Mr David Umahi, on his part, said he would not be the first or the last to pay the minimum wage.
Umahi said this in Abakaliki while addressing workers in the state during May Day celebration.
He said, “You see this issue of minimum wage, I will not be the first nor the last to pay it, but I will pay.”
He noted that he would inaugurate a consultative committee which would determine how the new minimum wage would be paid to workers.
The governor added, “Civil servants and others should be prepared to pay tax in Ebonyi State.”
But the Ogun State Governor-elect, Dapo Abiodun, promised that his government would bring relief to the workers in the state.
The governor-elect, through his spokesperson, Remmy Hassan, in a statement on Wednesday on the 2019 May Day celebration, maintained that he was committed to the pact signed with labour during the campaign.
Taraba, Osun silent on minimum wage
However, Taraba State workers, who thronged Jolly Nyame Stadium Jalingo, left the venue disappointed as Governor Darius Ishaku failed to comment on the implementation of the new minimum wage.
Ishaku’s speech, which was read by Deputy Governor, Mr Haruna Manu, was silent on the issue of minimum wage, but promised to commence payment of the backlog of pension and gratuities of retired civil servants.
But some civil servants, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were expecting to hear the good news of the immediate commencement of payment of the minimum wage.
Earlier in his address, the state NLC Chairman, Mr Peter Gambo, called on the state government to consider the employment of graduates to fill vacancies in the civil service.
Also, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, did not say anything about the minimum wage during the celebration but he promised to prioritise workers’ welfare.
We won’t lag behind, says Fayemi
In his address at the May Day celebration, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Kayode Fayemi, represented by his deputy, Mr Bisi Egbeyemi, told workers that the state would not lag behind in the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage.
NLC and Trade Union Congress at the celebration in Ado Ekiti lauded Fayemi for prompt payment of salaries and payment of car and housing loans since he assumed office in October last year.
Outgoing Bauchi gov promises to set up committee
But the outgoing Bauchi State Governor, Mr Mohammed Abubabakar, said the state government would set up a committee to make recommendations on the new minimum wage.
Abubabakar, represented by Head of Service in the State, Mr Adamu Gokaru, urged civil servants to be more diligent in the discharge of their duties for the growth and development of the state.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the state Chairman of NLC, Mr Danjuma Kirfi, expressed optimism that the implementation of the minimum wage in the state would not be a problem.
A’Ibom ready for implementation– Emmanuel
Also, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, said the state was the first to set up a committee to review and observe the new minimum wage. According to him, the new wage will be implemented in the state.
Outgoing Adamawa State Governor, Mr Jibrilla Bindow, said he was not leaving behind a N150bn debt.
Bindow said the allegations against him were not true.
Ajimobi promises implementation
However, Oyo State Governor, Mr Abiola Ajimobi, assured the state’s workforce of his administration’s resolve to pay the N30,000 minimum wage.
The governor stated this in a speech read by his deputy, Mr Moses Adeyemo, at this year’s May Day rally, held at Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Wednesday.
The state Chairman of TUC, Mr Emmanuel Ogundiran and his NLC counterpart, Mr Bayo Titilola-Sodo, called on the government to be prepared to fulfill its side of the bargain on the new minimum wage as soon as talks were concluded.
In Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson, assured workers of his administration’s resolve to pay the minimum wage.
The governor, however, stated that the state government was waiting for a directive from the National Income and Wages Commission for the modalities of the implementation.
He urged civil servants in the state to exercise patience while the state government awaited the modalities.
We’ll renegotiate with Oyo workers– Makinde
But Governor-elect of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday advanced reasons why his administration would have to renegotiate with the state workforce on the new minimum wage of N30,000.
Makinde had told journalists in Abuja after the two-day orientation for returning and newly-elected governors that, “Personally, I believe that individual states should have been allowed to negotiate this (minimum wage) because conditions of living in Lagos are obviously not the same as living in Ibadan.
“And I will definitely say without fear or favour that it’s part of the reasons why we are thinking of restructuring. That’s a federal system of government.
“We have a federation but the state governments, I believe, are no subordinate to the Federal Government. They are coordinate governments.
“Then, when the Federal Government makes a law that says ‘well, we are going to pay N30,000 as minimum wage,’ what’s the condition in my state? Can we support it? I don’t think so.
“We are going to engage NLC in my state and we see how we go from there.”
Justifying Makinde’s position, his media aide, Mr Dotun Oyelade, in a press statement said, “Yes, states as independent federating units should have been allowed to determine the minimum wages of their individual states.”
He continued, “A committee will begin parley with leadership of NLC from the first week in June to determine the extent to which government can implement not only the minimum wage, but indeed provide buffers for the workers to live decently.”
Ondo State chapters of NLC and TUC appealed to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to implement the new minimum wage .
In his address to the workers, Akeredolu said he would pay the minimum wage as approved by law, saying the minimum wage issue was non-negotiable.
Also, Cross River State Governor, Mr Ben Ayade, promised to pay the new minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Punch
