Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, has disagreed with Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, over the latter’s warning that states and the Federal Governments may not be able to pay salaries beyond next month.

Obaseki, who spoke yesterday during the Workers’ Day at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, said the two tiers of government will no longer be able to pay salaries without the removal of petrol subsidy.

The other option, according to him, would be for the Federal Government to print money.

The Federal Government has set a June 30 day to end the subsidy payment regime on petrol for which it voted N3 trillion in the 2023 Appropriation Act.

Obaseki urged workers to champion the cause for the removal of fuel subsidy.

But Ngige dismissed the governor’s warning as an ‘alarm’.

He also assured the workers that the Federal Government has the capacity to meet the proposed pay rise.

The minister, who spoke on national television, said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had made adequate provision for the workers.

Besides, he said the incoming government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has what it takes to follow through on the agreement. (The Nation)