AFTER initial objection, the 36 states governors of the Federation on Tuesday agreed to fully implement the N18,000 minimum wage to their workers.
However, the governors also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately remove the subsidy on petroleum.
This was disclosed at the end of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) meeting in Abuja.
Chairman of NGF and Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi who briefed journalists explained that the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage had become imperative because the National Minimum Wage Act was a valid law.
He said the governors would meet the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to remove impediments to the smooth implementation of the law.
The governors also condemned the spate of bombings in the country and appealed to the Federal government to invest in intelligence gathering technology to check the act.
They resolved to address the security challenges in the country through a parley with the Presidency.
They noted the remarkable achievements in the eradication of the polio virus across the country and agreed to sustain the achievement through a consistent and comprehensive campaign, setting aside a day in the year to create awareness for the eradication of the disease.
The Director-General of the Governors Forum, Mr. Ashishana Okauru, told The Guardian that the governors would not flout minimum wage law, but there are implementation challenges. He said the issues of oil subsidy had been there and the governors have been on it. But that is within the powers of the President to implement and not the governors. Besides, he said the issue of amendment of revenue allocation had been an issue. And all these also feature at the meeting but no much had been concluded. “All told the governors want to implement the minimum wage but it is not easy because of the financial implications,” he added
However, The Guardian gathered that the issue of ministerial nominees from states dominated the meeting between the President and the PDP governors who met him before the enlarged meeting of the Governors Forum. The governors were said to have expressed concern that the names of most of their nominees were not sent to the States Security Service for screening.
Although they resolved the contentious issue of Bauchi and Kwara states ministerial nominees, but not without warning from the President, that he would only consider “quality people” nominated to him.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday assured workers that the new minimum wage would be paid with arrears, irrespective of the delay in its implementation.
The NLC’s Acting General Secretary, Mr. Owei Lakemfa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the law took effect from April 1.
He said the delay in its implementation was caused by some state governments which had not agreed to pay the N18,000 minimum wage.
He said that when implemented, workers in all tiers of the government and the private sector would enjoy the arrears.
President Jonathan signed the new national minimum wage bill into law on March 23.
In a related development, some states not aware of the governors’ decision to pay the new minimum wage are already threatening to go on strike.
In Ondo State, workers in the public service will today begin an indefinite strike over non-payment of the new wage.
The industrial action is as a result of the breakdown of negotiation between the organized Labour and the state government over the implementation of the minimum wage.
At the meeting, the government team headed by the Head of Service, Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu said from the data available to both the government and the Labour, it was clear that the government could not pay N18, 000 demanded by the workers.
Also, Labour crisis may be imminent in Osun State except the state government acts fast by addressing the N18,000 minimum wage causing disquiet among the workforce.
Three industrial unions including the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday gave a 14-day ultimatum to the governor within which to implement the new wage or face the wrath of the workers.
The ultimatum was contained in a letter jointly signed by the representatives of the three unions and addressed to the governor dated June 20, 2011.
Signatory to the letter included the state chairman of NLC and Secretary comrade Saka Adesiyan and G.A. Bolarinwa, TUC chairman and secretary, O. F. Adetunji and Kayode Adepoju, JNC, Bayo Adejumoand Akinyemi Olatunji respectively.
Similarly, the chairman of NLC in Jigawa State, Suleiman Adamu Kiyawa, has expressed hope that Governor Sule Lamido would meet up with the new minimum wage.
He said the governor was always the first among his colleagues to implement most of the previous wage increases.
The chairman who spoke to The Guardian in Dutse recently said they had no reason to be confrontational since the governor had not disappointed them before.
But reacting to the call by the governors for the removal of oil subsidy, the General Secretary, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Mr. Peters Adeyemi, said such contentious issue should not come up now.-Guardian
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