The 36 state governors, on the platform of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, have expressed their view that the proposed N60,000 minimum wage is not feasible and cannot be implemented.
The governors said if they accept it, a few states would end up borrowing to pay workers monthly.
According to the governors, if they sustained the proposed N60,000 minimum wage by the Federal Government, many states would spend all their Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC allocations on just paying salaries with nothing left for development purposes.
The governors made their position on thematter known in a statement on Friday by the NGF acting Director on Media and Public Affairs, Hajiya Halimah Ahmed, titled, “The forum’s stand on the N60,000 minimum wage not sustainable: NGF”.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum NGF, is in agreement that a new minimum wage is due.
“The Forum also sympathises with labour unions in their push for higher wages.
“However, the Forum urges all parties to consider the fact that the minimum wage negotiations also involve consequential adjustments across all cadres, including pensioners.
“The NGF cautions parties in this important discussion to look beyond just signing a document for the sake of it; any agreement to be signed should be sustainable and realistic.
“All things considered, the NGF holds that the N60,000 minimum wage proposal is not sustainable and cannot fly.
“It will simply mean that many states will spend all their FAAC allocations on just paying salaries with nothing left for development purposes.
“In fact, a few states will end up borrowing to pay workers every month. We do not think this will be in the collective interest of the country, including workers.
“We appeal that all parties involved, especially the labour unions, consider all the socio-economic variables and settle for an agreement that is sustainable, durable, and fair to all other segments of the society who have legitimate claim to public resources.”
