Governors from Nigeria’s Southern region have called for state-specific negotiations on the new minimum wage, emphasizing that each state’s ability to pay should be considered.
This stance was articulated during a meeting of the Southern Governors’ Forum, aligning with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum’s (NGF) ongoing efforts to find a mutually agreeable solution to the minimum wage crisis.
Although President Bola Tinubu attended the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, he did not address the wage issue. Vice President Kashim Shettima also remained silent on the matter.
Organized Labour has raised concerns about growing restiveness among workers in both public and private sectors due to delays in finalizing the new minimum wage, with calls for potential industrial action.
In a 16-point communiqué, the governors advocated for each state to negotiate wages with labor unions, reflecting the cost of living. This discussion also touched on fiscal federalism and power devolution.
The NGF, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, reiterated their commitment to ongoing negotiations for better wages. Governors from various states, including Oyo, Zamfara, and Anambra, attended the meeting, along with deputy governors from Akwa Ibom, Osun, and Borno.
President Tinubu had previously set up a tripartite committee to negotiate a new minimum wage, involving labor, federal and state representatives, and the Organised Private Sector.
However, the committee has yet to reach a consensus, prompting labor to declare an indefinite strike on June 3, 2024, which disrupted major services nationwide.
The strike was suspended on June 4 after the President assured a living wage above N60,000. Subsequent negotiations have yet to yield an agreement, with labor reducing its demand to N250,000, while the government’s latest offer stands at N62,000.
In his Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2024, President Tinubu promised to send an executive bill on the new national minimum wage to the National Assembly soon, following further consultations.
