NGF sets up committee on new minimum wage, says 100k not feasible

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum( NGF), has set up a committee to work on possible amount that could be paid as the new minimum wage across the states of the federation .

The committee , which is headed by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma is to review options at her disposal and make recommendations .

The forum at its meeting held in respect of the current economic situation in the country and the debate on the new minimum wage submitted that a minimum wage of #100,000 is not feasible as some states are still struggling to pay 30,000 declared some years ago.

Sources at the meeting said the NFG considered #60,000 offered to the organized Labour by the Federal Government to #70,000 , being paid currently by the Edo State Government .

“Records available to us indicated that some states are still paying N18,000 because they are unable to afford N30,000 (which came into effect in 2019). Only a state has adopted a N70,000 wage,” the source said.

The governors’ position is in line with a previous statement made by the Chairman of NGF and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who stated that states will only agree to a minimum wage that is “affordable and sustainable”.

Meanwhile, the Presidency on Thursday denied reports that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, submitted a proposal for a new minimum wage of N105,000 to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the reports as false, stating that the minister had not proposed any such amount.