NGF guarantees NLC, TUC and others an improved and sustainable minimum wage

The Nigerian Governors Forum on Thursday assured the Nigerian Labor Congress, Trade Union Congress and workers of an improved and sustainable minimum wage.

In January, President Bola Tinubu constituted a tripartite committee comprising representatives of government, labor and the private sector to evaluate the N30,000 minimum wage implemented during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recently, the two main labor organisations, the NLC and the TUC, presented a minimum wage proposal of N615,000 to the committee.

Despite May Day celebrations on Wednesday, the government refrained from announcing a new minimum wage, citing its reluctance to accept workers’ proposal.

The NGF, in a statement issued after its virtual meeting on Wednesday, signed by its Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and made available to journalists on Thursday, said the 37-member tripartite committee tasked with reviewing the national minimum wage is still in consultation and has not completed its work.

The governors’ forum stated that it is evaluating the fiscal capacity of each state government and the potential effects of different proposals to determine an improved minimum wage that can be feasibly sustained by the states.

The statement read in part: “The Forum celebrates with workers across the country their dedication to service and their patience, as we work with the federal government, unions, the organized private sector and relevant stakeholders to reach a minimum wage national implementable.

“While we acknowledge several initiatives recently taken on wage awards and partial wage adjustments, it is imperative to note that the inaugurated 37-member tripartite committee on the National Minimum Wage is still under consultation and has not yet concluded its work.

“As members of the committee, we are reviewing our individual fiscal space as state governments and the consequent impact of various recommendations, to arrive at an improved minimum wage that we can sustainably pay. “We remain committed to the process and promise that better wages will be the invariable result of ongoing negotiations.”

As noted in the statement, the governors also praised outgoing World Bank Country Director Shubham Chaudhuri and welcomed incoming Country Director Ndiame Diop.

It was revealed that Chaudhuri appreciated the Forum for the strategic role it continues to play in coordinating collective action for developmental change.

The NGF statement said: “It applauded the non-partisan nature of the forum, the professionalism of its Secretariat and the commitment of state governments to mutual accountability mechanisms such as the Bank’s performance-based financial interventions. Members expressed confidence in the choice of Mr. Diop to lead the collaboration going forward and look forward to a sustained and deep relationship.

“The Forum discussed the revised National Justice Policy (2024-2028) of the just concluded National Justice Summit on April 24-25, 2024. Members agreed to consider summit presentations that may affect their individual States, including recommended legal amendments. , administrative and political improvements to strengthen the justice sector.

“In addition, the forum undertook to investigate issues bordering on the remuneration of state judicial officers and the infrastructure of the Courts.

“The forum received a presentation from the National Human Capital Development (HCD) Program – Central Task Force Secretariat, led by Ms. Rukaiya El-Rufai and Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab. Both highlighted the marginal progress made by States and their contribution to Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI), especially in health, nutrition, education and labor force participation.

“Having reviewed the previous program design and national strategy, a revised governance and implementation roadmap was proposed to scale up impact and ensure sustainability. Members committed to supporting the effective incorporation of the proposed revisions into the national HCD strategy.”

The Forum further expressed its condolences to the Governors of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, following the incidents of oil tanker explosion and gas explosion on April 26 and 27. of 2024, respectively.