The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Tuesday has agreed to pay N22,500 as the national minimum wage as existing N18,000.
Governor Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara state and the chairman of the forum made this known while speaking to the press at the emergency meeting held in Abuja.
He said the decision was arrived at after a briefing from the forum representatives at the Tripartite Committee. ”The welfare of all Nigerians was the ultimate concern of the governors, saying in all our states, we are concerned about the deteriorating economic situation experienced by the vulnerable segment of our population.” he said.
He added that in agreeing to a national minimum wage, the forum was even more concerned about development, particularly in the health, education and infrastructure spheres.
“It is therefore our considered position that since the percentage of salaried workers is not more than five percent of the total working population, our position must not just reflect a figure, but also a sustainable strategy based on ability and capacity to pay, as well as reflective of all our developmental needs in each state.
“After all, Section 3 of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission Act provides that “the Commission shall recommend a proposition of income growth which should be initiated for wage increase and also examined the salary structure in public and private sector with reasonable features of relativity and maximum levels which are in consonance with the national economy.
“It is in this sense that we feel strongly that our acceptable minimum wage must be done in such a way that total personnel cost does not exceed 50 percent of the revenue available to each State, Governors, therefore agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the meeting with the governors were the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma.