List: 20 Governors Not Paying Wage Award Despite Tinubu's Plea
Legit.ng journalist Bada Yusuf is an accomplished politics and current affairs editor, boasting over seven years of experience in journalism and writing.
Since the federal government began paying the N35,000 wage award in addition to the N30,000 minimum wage to Nigerian workers and President Bola Tinubu's plea to governors to replicate the gesture, 15 states have not complied, while seven have stopped. The wage award was intended to reduce the economic hardship on workers until the new minimum wage was implemented.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the refusal of some state governors to pay the wage award to workers in their states, describing it as the height of insensitivity. The union lamented that workers are suffering because of the anti-poor government policies.
Source: Twitter
According to Vanguard report, 15 states are said to pay their workers between N10,000 and N40,000 as salary increments or wage awards.
The states not paying the wage awards included one in the Southeast, four in the South-South, five in the Northwest, three in the Northeast, and two in the North Central.
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed!
Analyst comment on minimum wage
The controversies came amid calls by organised labour on the government to increase the minimum wage.
However, an analyst Okanlawon Gaffar, who spoke with Legit.ng described the situation as a weakness of Nigeria's centralised government, adding that the right thing is for states to be able to determine their minimum wage.
Gaffar said:
"This is still a weakness of our centralised government. If Nigeria were practising federalism as it should be, states would determine their minimum wage based on their capacity, and someone in Katsina would not be jealous of someone in Lagos because their cost of living is not the same."
Below is a list of some of the states not paying or paid partially:
Governor Oborevwori of Delta state
The governor of Delta Oborevwori Sheriff has yet to commence the payment of wage awards to workers in the state despite President Tinubu's plea.
Ifeanyi Osuoza, the commissioner for information in Delta, told journalists that the government would set up a committee to address every wage-related issue, including the minimum wage.
Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers
Under the watch of Fubara, the Rivers government is another state that has yet to pay the wage award eight months after the federal government began the payment.
Governor Fubara's administration said its government was waiting for the decision of the tripartite committee, which was set up to review the new minimum wage. The committee included federal government representatives, governors, organised labour, and private organisations.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom
The governor of the oil-rich south-south state has assured that his administration is ready to pay the minimum wage agreed upon by the tripartite committee and that the payment will begin as soon as it is passed into law.
Governor Eno also promised to improve the workers' welfare in the state, adding that he has directed the compilation of the casual workers in the state.
Governor Otti of Abia is not paying
The governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, has yet to commence the payment of the wage award, saying that his government will look into the workers' demand.
The NLC in the state appealed to the governor to approve the N35,000 wage award to alleviate the workers' pains in the face of the country's current economic hardship.
Nasir Idris sets up committee
The government of Kebbi state has announced that a committee will be established on May 1 to devise a workable minimum wage for state workers.
However, Governor Idris's leadership in the state had yet to commence the payment of wage awards eight months after the federal government commenced the payment.
Other states that have yet to start paying or have paid for a while are listed below:
| S/N | Governors | State | Wage Status |
| 1 | Babagana Zulum | Borno | Distributing foods and Palliatives |
| 2 | Mai Mala Buni | Yobe | Distributing foods and Palliatives |
| 3 | Muhammed Bago | Niger | Paid N20,000 once |
| 4 | Umaru Radda | Katsina | Paid N15,000 and N10,000 twice to workers and pensioners |
| 5 | Abdullahi Sule | Nasarawa | Paid N10,000 to workers twice and N5,000 to pensions for four months |
| 6 | Bala Muhammad | Bauchi | Paid N10,000 to workers during Eid-el-Fitr and food palliative to workers |
| 7 | Caleb Mutfwang | Plateau | Paid N12,000 for six months |
Tinubu announces conclusion on minimum wage discussion
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Tinubu had announced the conclusion of negotiations on the new minimum wage with organised labour and the private sector.
In his address on Democracy Day, the president said an executive bill to enshrine the new minimum wage in Nigerian law would soon be sent to the National Assembly.
However, Tinubu did not mention what was agreed upon as the new minimum wage with organised labour.
PAY ATTENTION: Unlock the best of Legit.ng on Pinterest! Subscribe now and get your daily inspiration!
Source: Legit.ng
