NECA DG Talk Say States No Get Excuse To Pay Less Than ₦70,000 Minimum Wage

The Director General of NECA, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, talk this one for Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday say the increase in money wey dey enter Federal Account don reduce the argument wey some states dey use say dem no fit pay workers. E talk say, “No state get excuse to still dey pay just ₦70,000 minimum wage, especially with how petrol price don high. Plenty states dey try with the CNG buses, but we believe say more work still dey ground. Plenty work still dey for food, security and shelter. Once dem fix those issues, people no go too dey worry about minimum wage again because ₦70,000 fit buy enough for normal family. So e no be about the amount, na about wetin the ₦70,000 fit buy.” E also talk say any plan wey fit reduce the wahala wey workers dey suffer go make dem work better.

Smatt-Oyerinde explain say e good for state governments to see civil service as the engine wey dey drive the system. E talk say workers for public and private sector na key players for economy and any plan wey go make dem productive go help growth. E add, “If person hungry, no get proper house or transport wahala, e hard to do work well.” E say private sector sabi say workers no be commodity, dem be important and dem deserve good treatment. For July 2024, President Bola Tinubu sign minimum wage bill into law after long talks between government, labour unions, and private sector. Dem increase minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. Some states come increase their own minimum wage higher than that. For example, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma increase minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦104,000. Twenty-four hours later, Ebonyi State government announce ₦90,000 with immediate effect for all civil and public servants. In October 2024 Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu talk say dem go pay ₦85,000 as minimum wage to its workers, while Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Bayelsa pay ₦80,000 for state government employees, and in  November 2024, Osun State approve ₦75,000 as minimum wage for their workers.