Nigerian Governors Resolve to Pay N18,000 Minimum Wage

The Nigeria Labour Congress has vowed to picket Union Bank branches over a dispute involving the recognition of the labour organization. The NLC represents large numbers of workers across Africa's most populous state., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Govs Resolve To Pay N18,000 Minimum Wage

Sunday, 17 July 2011 00:00 From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja News
Nigerian Guardian

GOVERNORS of the 36 States of the federation have resolved to effect payment of the N18, 000 minimum wage.

The decision was the result of a marathon all-night meeting that began from 8pm on Friday and ended in the early hours of Saturday.

The meeting, which was held under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), specifically asked all state governors to comply with the National Minimum Wage Act which was signed into law by President Jonathan last March.

The forum also urged governors to take more drastic steps to curtail incidences of insecurity across the country, particularly Borno State.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, as read by chairman of the NGF, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, reads: “On the issue of Minimum Wage, the forum resolved to comply with the provisions of the Minimum Wage Act and further agreed that individual states should commence implementation modalities.

“Members condemned the worsening security situation in Borno State and the attendant loss of lives and property. It further called on the leadership of the area to do everything possible to curtail the situation.”

The meeting of the governors, it was learnt, took place shortly after they had met with the leadership of the House of Representatives.

Yesterday’s decision by governors to pay the minimum wage of 18, 000 is seen as part of desperate move to avert a three-day warning strike which the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) fixed to commence on Wednesday.

The leadership had equally asked the federal government to comply with the wage law at a separate meeting with the Labour and Productivity Minister, as well as the leaders of organised labour.