Minimum Wage: Nigerian Governor Bows to Pressure, Agrees to Pay Workers N70,000

• Gombe government has promised workers in the state that it will pay the new national minimum wage of N70,000
• The deputy governor Manassah Jatau announced this following his meeting with the leadership of the NLC in the state on Sunday, August 25
• Jatau, chairman of the state’s tripartite committee on minimum wage negotiation, disclosed to the press the governor's intention for workers' welfare

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state has announced his intention to pay the new N70,000 national minimum wage to workers in the state.

Gombe workers to get N70k minimum wage

The Gombe state deputy governor, Manassah Jatau, chairman of the state’s tripartite committee on minimum wage negotiation, revealed this to journalists on Sunday, August 25.

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As reported by The Punch, he noted that his committee was fine-tuning the details in that respect while assuring that Governor Yahaya was committed to paying the new minimum wage.

Represented by the Head of Civil Service, Alh. Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi, during the briefing, the deputy governor explained that the governor was highly committed to ensuring that civil servants in the state enjoy the N70,000 new national minimum wage so they can put in their best in serving the state.

Speaking further, Jatau said that the governor has set a machinery in motion, and the standing committee has been fine-tuning to see to the implementation of the new minimum wage, The Nation reported.

According to him:

“Government has set the machinery for the implementation of the new national minimum wage in Gombe State. Let me assure you that His Excellency the Governor is fully determined to pay the minimum wage.

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The chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Gombe chapter, Yusuf Aish, also confirmed the development.

While briefing journalists after the minimum wage implementation committee’s meeting at the Deputy Governor’s office, he said:

“In our tripartite discussion, we came to agree between us and the government that we are going to wait a little bit to see the time the National Minimum Wage table which has been agreed by the Federal Government will be released. Whenever it’s released, we will start full negotiations in Gombe with a view to agree on what will be paid in the state.”

Gombe earlier said it cannot pay workers N70,000

Recall that Governor Yahaya cried out and said his administration could not pay civil servants in the state the N70,000 new minimum wage.

He argued that even with the increased allocation from the federation account, the state cannot afford the new package for workers.

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Yahaya, however, noted that implementing the new N70,000 minimum wage must include consequential adjustments.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng