NGF assures NLC, TUC, others of improved, sustainable minimum wage

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

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

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

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

The NGF, in a communique issued after its virtual meeting on Wednesday, signed by its Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and made available to journalists on Thursday, stated that the 37-member tripartite committee tasked with reviewing the National Minimum Wage is still in consultations and has not completed its work.

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

The communique read in part, “The Forum celebrates with workers across the country for their dedication to service and patience, as we work with the Federal Government, labour, organised private sector and relevant stakeholders in arriving at an implementable national minimum wage.

“While we acknowledge various initiatives adopted recently by way of wage awards and partial wage adjustments, it is imperative to state that the 37-member tripartite committee inaugurated on the National Minimum Wage, is still in consultation and yet to conclude its work.

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

As stated in the communique, the governors also commended the outgoing Country Director of the World Bank, Shubham Chaudhuri, and welcomed the 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’s communique stated, “He applauded the non-partisan character of the forum, the professionalism of its Secretariat, and state governments’ commitment to mutual accountability mechanisms such as performance-based financing interventions by the Bank. Members expressed confidence in the choice of Mr. Diop, to lead the collaboration going forward and look forward to a sustained and deepened relationship.

“The Forum discussed the revised National Policy on Justice (2024 -2028) from the just concluded National Summit on Justice on 24th & 25th April 2024. Members agreed to consider the submissions from the summit as may concern their individual States, including recommended legal amendments, administrative improvements, and policies to strengthen the justice sector.

“Also, the forum committed to looking into 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 – Core Working Group Secretariat, led by Ms. Rukaiya El-Rufai and Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab. Both highlighted the marginal progress made by States and its contribution to Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI), especially across health, nutrition, education, and labour 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 pledged to support the effective domestication of proposed revisions to the national HCD strategy.”

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