Politics

Governor Makinde pays N30,500 as minimum wage in Oyo – Ex-NLC Boss

No Comments

Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde, has said he pays N30,500 as minimum wage for over 101,000 workers on its payroll.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo, a former State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress and Special Adviser on Labour Matters to the governor.

Addressing newsmen at the State Secretariat of the Correspondents’ chapel, Mokola, Ibadan, the SA described Makinde as the most Workers’ friendly when compared with previous administrations in the state.

He further hinted that the state government had paid over N13billion as gratuities for retired workers in the state.

He said; “As a worker-friendly Governor, Engr Makinde pays minimum wage for the workers in the state. I have never seen a government which arranged the issue of minimum wage without any noise.

“Oyo State is second to Lagos State in the payment of the minimum wage. We pay workers N30,500 for our workers. But for COVID-19 which affected the economic fortunes of the state, it would have been more than that.

“He has also increased vehicle and housing loans which now stand between N750,000 and N3m depending on the cadre of the worker.

The number of workers in the state is about 101,000 and we have 33 local government areas. The state has over 600 secondary schools.

“Governor Makinde has paid N13b as gratuities for pensioners in the state. The IGR in the state has improved with the state making over N2.5b on the average.

Speaking as a well experienced labour leader on the ongoing brouhaha between Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai and workers in the state, he said the governor should tread softly on the issue adding that he would stand by the workers.

“I will always stand by the workers. You can’t run a whole State like a private enterprise. You can’t just wake up to say you sacked workers like that. There is a process you must follow. There is no way he can win against the workers.”

To make it easier for pregnant workers, he noted that the state had increased maternity leave from three months to six months.

Politics

Minimum wage: You’ll benefit more, if you start your own business – Zamfara Governor tells workers

No Comments

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, has hinted that the state government cannot pay the new minimum wage.

He said his government is currently grappling with monthly deductions for debt servicing inherited from the past administration, payment of salaries and running of the government.

Matawalle spoke on Friday when he hosted executive members of the 36 labour unions under the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the breaking of the Ramadan fast at his Gusau residence.

The new minimum wage bill was signed into law in April 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari. The law stipulates an increase from N18,500 to N30,000 as minimum wage in Nigeria.

The governor said; “Zamfara, which is one of the least collectors of monthly federal allocation has over ₦1.6 billion deducted from source to service the debts it inherited from the past administration.

“Every month, the state is left with between ₦1.8 billion and ₦1.3 billion to pay salaries to its over 28,000 workers as well as to execute government’s activities.”

He, however, said, he would implement the new minimum wage as soon as there is an improvement and called for more understanding from the workers.

The governor also urged the workers to start their own businesses which they can fall back on after retirement.

“l can assure you that if you start your own business, you will gain experience and be well established before you retire.

“The state government will register and issue certificates on all public and private landed properties which can be used to secure bank loans for interested workers with the backing of the government,” he said.

World News

Biden raises minimum wage to $15/N5,700 per hour (N4.2m monthly)

No Comments

United States President, Joe Biden, has raised the minimum wage of those working on federal contracts to $15 per hour which is equivalent to N5,700 at the official exchange rate of N379 per dollar.

This means that each worker would be able to go home with $10,950 monthly (N4.2 million).

This comes amid debates in Nigeria over the N30,000 minimum wage per month for workers which is equivalent to $66.

Biden took to his official Twitter account on Tuesday, to inform all workers in America of the development.

He wrote; “I believe no one should work full time and still live in poverty. That’s why today, I raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour for people working on federal contracts.”

Meanwhile, recall that in 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded an executive bill to the National Assembly for amendment of the National Minimum Wage Act after prolonged and heated negotiations between the workers, employers and the government.

Buhari signed the passed bill into law in April 2019, raising the minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000.

Some states have, however, been unable to pay the new wage.

Politics

NLC set for strike in states that refuse to pay N30,000 minimum wage

No Comments

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has resolved to embark on strikes in states that have refused to pay its workers the N30,000 minimum wage earlier agreed upon.

In a communique signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and and the General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja, the labour union described the failure of some state governments to implement the new national minimum wage as an act of criminality and betrayal of office.

The NLC added that some state governments were also yet to conclude negotiations on consequential salary adjustment owing to the new national minimum wage.

The communique reads:

“The NEC warned that it would take very drastic action against state governments that have refused to pay the new national minimum wage and minimum pension which benefit had already been eroded by the escalating inflation in the country.

“The NEC also resolved to view the refusal to pay the new national minimum wage by state governments as demanded by the law as an act of criminality, betrayal of the oath of office sworn by state chief executives and a dangerous adventure in anarchy.

“The NEC-in-Session directed all states where the national minimum wage of N30,000 is yet to be paid to immediately proceed on industrial action.”

Close Menu

Privacy Policy