From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
After a series of negotiations involving the Katsina State government and various Labour unions, parties eventually reached a consensus in the early hours of Saturday morning, with the government agreeing to commence payment of the new N70,000 minimum wage in December 2024.
“This landmark decision followed nine hours of intense deliberations between representatives of the state government and labour unions,” the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Faskari, told reporters at the end of the meeting.
He explained that the discussions focused on reconciling workers’ demands with the government’s financial capacity, ensuring that the new wage policy is sustainable while addressing the economic realities faced by the workforce.
“The decision is a testament to the Governor Dikko Umar Radda administration’s dedication to prioritizing the needs of civil servants and fostering harmonious Labour relations,” the SSG said.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, deliberations between the parties had hit the rocks with representatives of the Labour unions staging a walk-out following seeming “irreconcilable differences,” according to reports.
The deadlock, according to sources, arose following the government’s insistence that payment of the new minimum wage should begin in January 2025 while Labour stood its ground that it should start with the December 2024 salaries.
The parties reconvened later and the talks dragged on, ending at about 1.30 am on Saturday.
Acknowledging the financial implications of the decision, the SSG said that the government thoroughly assessed its fiscal position and was confident in its ability to implement the new wage structure without compromising other developmental projects or essential services.
He said that plans were underway to streamline the payroll system to ensure a smooth transition and prompt payment of the adjusted salaries.
The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) recently directed its branches to commence immediate strike action nationwide in states that were yet to implement the minimum wage regime.
Katsina is one of the about 14 states yet to comply as of November 2024.