Some states yesterday clashed with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over an allegation of default in the N30,000 minimum wage payment.

The Labour Centre listed Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Niger, Borno, Sokoto, Anambra, Imo, Benue, Taraba and Zamfara as states not paying the expired minimum wage signed into law five years ago.

Assistant General Secretary of the NLC Chris Onyeka claimed that many state governors flout the Minimum Wage Act because they do not believe in the sanctity of the law.

Onyeka gave the position in Abuja yesterday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said: “A state governor who does not believe in the sanctity of the laws will have a high proclivity to disobeying them.

“If you examine the history of some of these governors and their handlers, you will find a preponderance of those who came to power by breaking the laws.

“Is it now that they will obey the national minimum wage act?”

The Labour leader said many governors were unwilling to pay civil servants their salaries because they see the state resources as theirs and are, therefore, not willing to share with the workers, who create the wealth.

He added: “Some governors believe, erroneously, that workers’ salaries can wait or be toyed with without consequences, so, they do not place priority to it.

“However, they forget that workers are human beings who need their salaries to meet their basic needs of life,” he said.

But Kogi, Enugu and Benue faulted NLC’s claim, saying they were not in default.

Zamfara started paying the N30,000 minimum wage this month.

Edo State has been paying N70,000 since May in anticipation of the new minimum wage.

In his national broadcast on June 12, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said that an executive bill would soon be sent to the National Assembly to formalise the new minimum wage agreement.

It followed the conclusion of negotiations by the Tripartite Committee.

While the government and the Organised Private Sector agreed on N62,000, labour demanded N250,000.

Special Adviser to Kogi State Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Onuh Edoka, who visited NLC President Joe Ajaero in Abuja, said he was one of those who fought for the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage.

“Kogi is one of the states currently paying the N30,000 minimum wage.

“This is a struggle I and others personally fought,” Edoka said.

The former NLC chairman in Kogi said the state government has also cleared salary and pension backlogs.

“There is prompt payment of salaries to the Kogi workers as early as the 24th of the month.

“Payment of pensioners in both the state and local government levels is prompt.

“The governor ensures the implementation of a 35 per cent hazard allowance to all categories of state health workers,” Edoka said.

Ajaero said the NLC would confirm Edoka’s claims.

‘Enugu not in default’

Enugu State government faulted NLC’s claim.

Uche Anichukwu, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Peter Mbah on External Relations, said: “That statement by the NLC doesn’t represent the truth.

“Governor Mbah on assumption of office was confronted with the non-payment of the N30,000 minimum wage to primary school teachers and local government workers.

“He quickly set up a committee to look into it and at the turn of 2024, he announced the approval for the payment.”

You got facts wrong, Benue tells NLC

The Benue State NLC chapter chairman, Terungwa Igbe, said the state must have been listed in error.

He said the past administration implemented the minimum wage from Levels 1-6.

Kulas Tersoo, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, added: “The governor has no problem with N30,000 minimum wage as there is no complaint from Labour.”

Uncertainty in Taraba

It could not be confirmed from official sources whether Taraba was paying the N30 minimum wage.

Secretary to the State Government, Gibon Kataps, did not pick up his call or respond to a message sent to him.

The governor’s spokesman, Emmanuel Bello, replied: “Let me check with the Head of Service. I will get back to you.”

He did not get back to our reporter as of the time of filing this report.

However, a civil servant, who preferred not to be named, said Governor Agbu Kefas directed the payment of the N30,000 in October last year, but he is not sure whether all civil servants are benefitting. (The Nation)

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