Some states neva pay 70,000 naira minimum wage - here na why?

For di past four months wey president Bola Tinubu administration sign di new minimum wage, some state goments neva still gree to pay di minimum wage of 70,000 naira to dia workers.

Ova di weekend, di Nigeria Labour Union don cry out ova di non-payment of di newly approved minimum wage to dia members, dem don issue ultimatum till 1 December, make dia members start protest for di states wey dem neva pay di minimum wage.

“Di NEC dia fore resolve to set up National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee wey go commence nationwide assessment, mobilisation and campaign to educate citizens on di need to resist dis assault on dia dignity and rights," NLC president, Joe Ajaero tok.

Meanwhile, Jide Ojo, public analyst wey chook mouth for di matta explain give BBC Pidgin reasons why some govnors neva pay di new minimum wage to dia workers.

E explain say states financial responsibilities and income generation dey different for states govnors, while some states fit pay above di minimum wage odas no fit afford to pay di 33,000 naira wey federal goment approve in 2019.

"Lagos say dem go pay 85,000 naira, while Zamfara just begin pay di 30,000 naira wey federal goment approve for 2019," e tok.

"States wey get more resources and capability fit pay but majority of di state no fit survive witout federal goment allocation."

Wetin fit dey responsible for non-payment of minimum wage by state goment

Depsite di increased federal allocation to state goment, some states still neva pay minimum wage and many workers dey complain about di harsh economic realities wey dem dey face on daily basis, di analyst tok.

But some states, goment still fit no get enof means of income generation wey go allow dem pay di minimum wage of workers and build infrastructure in di state.

Oga Ojo highlight some social and economic factors wey fit dey responsible for di non-payment of minimum wage.

Negotiation wit di workers: Setting up committee wit di workers to reflect di minimum wage burden for each state. Some states need to meet wit dia workers to discuss wetin dem fit pay no be to just follow federal goment implementation.

Supplementary budget: Minimum wage come into effect for July afta states don already do dia budget and dem no capture di new minimum wage for di 2024 budget. State goments go need do supplementary budget so dem go fit pay salaries.

Build infrastructures: Arguments from goment officials be say dem no occupy office just to pay salary but to also build infrastructure and workers only hold 10 percent of di tins wey dem dey responsible for in di state. Dem go need to show developmental projects rather dan using dia states resources to pay salaries.

Salary structure: Goment no fit just add extra money to di salary of each worker dem go need analyse di amount dem go pay all di workers including high level staff. Dem go need study di salary structure so di increment go touch each staff.

Decentralisation of minimum wage: Federal system suppose get dia own minimum wage base on dia negotiation wit di workers and labour unions. Some states goment dey no dey in uniform wit di federal goment becos dem no fit afford 70,000 naira. Govnors say dem no fit afford anytin above 60,000 naira but how federal goment go expect make dem fit afford 70,000 naira?

NLC don tok say dem go initiate series of industrial actions in all non-compliant states and dem no go relent until dem fully implement di minimum wage across Nigeria.

“To dis end, all state Councils wia dem neva fully implement di National Minimum Wage by di last day of November 2024 we don direct dem to go on strike beginning from December 1,” Ajaero tok.