Most Governors In Review Committee Not Paying Minimum Wage – NLC Criticises FG

The selection process of state governors drafted as members of the 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage, has been criticised by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero who made the criticism noted that most governors on the panel do not pay the current minimum wage.

Ajaero while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday said, ”Most of the governors in the minimum wage committee are those who are not paying minimum wage or paying them in breaches.

”The governors who are in full compliance with the minimum wage are not adequately represented, so whatever made the Federal Government bring in those who are not compliant or compliant in breaches to form the bulk of the membership of the minimum wage committee from the state government, that will unfold with time.”

Vice President Kashim Shettima had earlier on Tuesday, inaugurated the committee at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa Abuja.

Shettima said the decision was aimed at ensuring a decent living wage and in compliance with the existing National Minimum Wage Act of 2019 which will expire in a few months from now.

In his opening address, Shettima urged members to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early as the current N30,000 minimum wage expires at the end of March 2024.

In May 2017, the House of Representatives moved to amend the National Minimum Wage Act for a compulsory review of workers’ remuneration every five years.

The governors on the list are Mohammed Bago of Niger State representing the Nigeria Governors Forum, representing the North Central; Sen. Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State- representing the North East; Umar Radda of Katsina State, representing the North West; Prof. Charles Soludo of Anambra State, representing the South East; Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, from South West; and Otu Bassey of Cross River State who is representing the South-South.