Nigerian governors have given assurance that they would meet the December 31 deadline given by the organised labour for the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage to workers.

The governors, who met Wednesday night under the umbrella of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), also called on the National Assembly to follow due legislative process before the passage of the hate speech bill before it.

Deputy Chairman of the forum, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto who addressed newsmen at the end of the meeting, disclosed that negotiations on the new minimum wage have begun at state level.

“Various state governments have been engaging with their branches of Nigerian Labour Congress. I’m sure it is work in progress. Before December, all the states must have finished working out the details on the issue of minimum wage across the federation.

“We are very much committed to the welfare and wellbeing of our workforce and, therefore, we shall continue to ensure we do our best on what needs to be done,” he assured.

Tambuwal said the governors are not in support of the death penalty proposed in the hate speech bill before the National Assembly.

He expressed the belief that the National Assembly would hold a public hearing on the bill and follow due process of lawmaking so that Nigerians could express their views.

“They should respect the views of Nigerians in whatever may be the direction of debate and the eventual passage or otherwise of that bill,” the governor further advised.

The governors, however, expressed support for the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) from five to 7.5 per cent, and said it is to increase revenue base of both the federal and state governments.

“We are appealing to those who probably have no proper understanding of contexts of those bills to kindly have a rethink of those bills and reflect on quantum of works ahead of us as a country and states.

“We need a lot of resources to turn around infrastructure, invest in education, healthcare and every sector of our national life.

“There is urgent need of more revenue in Nigeria. So I appeal that we should show more understanding with the Federal Government in that regards,” Tambuwal pleaded.

(New Telegraph)

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