FG may sanction states over non-implementation of new minimum wage
From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
As the tripartite committee on New National Minimum Wage concludes its public hearing in the six geo-political zones of the country, the Federal Government is considering sanctioning states that are reluctant to implement the new minimum wage.
The sanction was part of the recommendations by the stakeholders who attended the public hearing.
Although, the recommended sanctions remain sketchy at the time of writing the story, it was gathered that those states may not benefit from Federal Government grants.
The tripartite committee went for a public hearing in all the six geo-political zones on March 7, 2024 and stakeholders presented papers suggesting that any state that fails to implement the new minimum wage would be sanctioned.
It is expected that the old minimum wage of N30,000 per month would cease to be effective on March 31, this year for a new rate to take effect. To this end, the committee is working tirelessly to conclude on the amount which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may announce on May 1, 2024.
So, in a meeting comprising the members of the tripartite committee, the organised labour, employers, state and federal government representatives, in Abuja, the chairman of the committee, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji urged the members to work for the progress and development of the country.
Recall that after a long-drawn battle between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on a new minimum wage, the then Labour Minister, Dr Chris Ngige announced N30,000 minimum wage at the end of a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. He informed that FEC also approved that payment of N30,000 minimum wage be effected from April 18, 2019.
Unfortunately, over 15 states could not pay the wages due to low revenue.
The states yet to implement the N30,000 minimum wage are: Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Niger, Borno, Sokoto, Anambra, Imo, Benue, Taraba and Zamfara. Also, over 70 per cent of workers in the private sector are yet to receive the N30,000 minimum wage.
Given the low revenue of some states, it’s certain that the 2024 minimum wage will equally not be implemented by them.
