JUST IN: Strike Looms as Governors Officially Reject Federal Government’s N60,000 Minimum Wage Proposal

The Governors of the 36 states of the Federation have officially rejected the proposed N60,000 minimum wage set forth by the Federal Government. The announcement was made public through a statement released on Friday by Hajiya Halimah Salihu Ahmed, the Director of Media and Public Affairs for the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

According to the governors, the proposed N60,000 wage is deemed unrealistic and unsustainable. They expressed concerns that its implementation would lead some states to resort to borrowing in order to meet their obligations of paying workers’ salaries.

While acknowledging the necessity for an upward adjustment in the minimum wage, the NGF emphasized the importance of considering the broader implications, including consequential adjustments for all cadres, including pensioners.

The NGF urged all stakeholders involved in the negotiations to prioritize sustainability and realism in reaching an agreement. They cautioned against hastily signing any document without due consideration for its long-term viability.

Highlighting the potential repercussions, the NGF warned that allocating significant portions of states’ funds solely for salary payments would hinder development initiatives and might compel some states to rely on borrowing as a recurring practice.

In a related development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had previously rejected the Federal Government’s N60,000 offer, leading to an indefinite strike. However, the strike action was temporarily suspended for one week to facilitate further negotiations with the government, which had pledged to revise the proposed wage.