Former presidential aide Doyin Okupe has expressed his reservations about the National Minimum Wage Act, which mandates a uniform minimum wage for all Nigerian states.
Okupe argues that each state governor should have the autonomy to determine the minimum wage based on their unique financial capabilities and local conditions.
“We shouldn’t have laws that are one-size-fits-all and force all governors in the federation to comply with them. Each state is distinct in its own right. For example, why should I be obligated to pay the same minimum wage in Sokoto as they do in Lagos?”
He believes that it should be up to each governor to decide the appropriate minimum wage for their state, taking into account the needs and resources of their own people.
Okupe emphasizes that the President should focus on fulfilling the Federal Government’s obligations, while allowing states and their respective labor unions to negotiate and determine suitable minimum wages independently.
On the other hand, former federal lawmaker Shehu Sani questions how Edo State can confidently afford a minimum wage of N70,000.
He suggests that the financial situations of states differ greatly and should be taken into consideration during wage discussions.
This ongoing debate has been a subject of negotiation between labor unions and the Federal Government for several months.
Following a May 31 ultimatum by labor unions, which led to a strike on June 3, the Federal Government pledged to increase the minimum wage above N60,000. As a result, the strike was temporarily suspended.
However, concerns have been raised by the 36 state governors regarding the feasibility of a N60,000 minimum wage. They argue that it is unsustainable and would require many states to allocate their entire monthly federation account allocations solely for paying workers’ salaries.
Halima Ahmed, the Acting Director of Media Affairs and Public Relations for the Governors’ Forum, acknowledges that such a high minimum wage would not be viable for many states.
The tripartite committee, comprising representatives from the government, labor unions, and employers, continues to negotiate in order to reach a fair and sustainable agreement on the new minimum wage.
