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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Governors across the 36 states of the federation have expressed their commitment to an improved minimum wage for workers.
The governors under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) who met virtually on May 1 discussed a range of critical national issues, including the ongoing minimum wage negotiations and reforms of the justice sector.
In a communique signed by the Chairman, NGF, and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governors hailed the dedication of Nigerian workers and acknowledged the ongoing consultations around a new national minimum wage.
While noting that various wage initiatives have been implemented, they stated that the 37-member tripartite minimum wage committee is still reviewing recommendations to arrive at a sustainable improved minimum wage that the state governments can pay.
“As members of the committee, we are reviewing our individual fiscal space as state governments and the consequential impact of various recommendations to arrive at an improved minimum wage we can pay sustainably. We remain committed to the process and promise that better wages will be the invariable outcome of the ongoing negotiations,” the governors said.
They highlighted the transition in World Bank leadership with the outgoing Country Director Shubham Chaudhuri, handing over to the incoming Ndiame Diop. The governors expressed confidence in Diop and looked forward to a continued strong partnership with the World Bank on development priorities.
Chaudhuri, in his remarks, thanked the Forum for the strategic role it continues to play in coordinating collective action for developmental change. He applauded the non-partisan character of the Forum, the professionalism of its Secretariat, and state governments’ commitment to mutual accountability mechanisms, such as performance-based financing interventions by the Bank.
Turning to the justice sector, the governors discussed the revised National Policy on Justice (2024-2028) that emerged from the recent national summit on justice. They agreed to consider the summit’s recommendations, including on legal amendments, administrative improvements, and strengthening judicial infrastructure and remuneration at the state level.
Other key agenda items as captured in the communique include a presentation on the national human capital development programme and an update on the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) initiative.
The governors pledged support for the effective implementation of these programmes at the state level.
Also, the Forum is committed to looking into issues bordering on remuneration of state judicial officers and the infrastructure of the courts.
The meeting closed with the governors commiserating with their counterparts in Rivers and Ogun states over the recent tragic petrol and gas explosions, and resolving to engage federal regulators to better align with state-level enforcement.
“The Forum commiserated with the Governors of Rivers State, H.E Siminalayi Fubara, and Ogun State, H.E Prince Dapo Abiodun, over the petrol tanker explosion and gas explosion that occurred on April 26 and 27, 2024, respectively. Members called for proper maintenance of trucks, especially those fitted to convey Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and recommended appropriate training for truck drivers.
“On enforcement of regulations, members resolved to engage relevant Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDAs) in order to align the activities of federal regulators with the operations of officials at the sub-national level,” the communique read.
