The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), representing the governors of the 36 states of the federation, has rejected the ₦60,000 minimum wage proposed by the federal government, deeming it unrealistic and unsustainable.
In a statement released on Friday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs of the NGF, Hajiya Halimah Salihu Ahmed, the governors expressed their agreement that a new minimum wage is due and sympathized with labor unions in their push for higher wages.
However, they cautioned that any agreement should be sustainable and realistic, taking into account the consequential adjustments across all cadres, including pensioners.
The NGF stated, “All things considered, the NGF holds that the ₦60,000 minimum wage proposal is not sustainable and can not fly.
It will simply mean that many states will spend all their FAAC allocations on just paying salaries with nothing left for development purposes. In fact, a few states will end up borrowing to pay workers every month. We do not think this will be in the collective interest of the country, including workers.”
The governors urged all parties involved, especially the labor unions, to consider the socioeconomic variables and settle for an agreement that is sustainable, durable, and fair to all other segments of the society who have legitimate claims to public resources.
The rejection of the proposed minimum wage by the governors is likely to lead to further negotiations between the federal government, state governments, and labor unions to reach a mutually acceptable compromise.
The minimum wage issue has been a contentious topic in Nigeria, with workers advocating for higher wages to cope with the rising cost of living, while governments grapple with the financial implications of such increases on their budgets and overall economic stability.
