The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has stated that Nigerian workers would be better off when states are allowed to fix their separate minimum wages in line with their financial capacity.

Speaking yesterday, during a public hearing on the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers for the South-South geo-political zone in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said that states vary in financial capacity, making a uniform minimum wage unrealistic.

He said: “And for us, therefore, the single national minimum wage system is yet, another lie that betrays the distortions in our federation and the structured dislocation of the States in the power equation between the Federal Government and the federating States.

“It is our view that the country and its workers would be better of, if States are allowed to fix and pay their own minimum wages indexed to the prevailing cost of living and ability to pay. When this happens, it is possible that some States may go beyond the minimum threshold to pay a living wage, which is what our workers truly need”, Wike said.

Governor Wike said that the previous review exercise failed to give maximum weight to the existing disparity in economic potential and capabilities among the 36 States of the federation, adding that it has been difficult for most of the States to implement the existing N18, 000.00 minimum wage.

He noted that majority of the States were within the fringes of financial viability and could not meet their salary obligations to civil servants without bailouts from the Federal Government. The governor further said that enhanced wages can only be possible when the Federal Government improves the economy of the federation.

The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike
The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike
He said: “Here in Rivers State, we value our workers; we invest in their welfare in different ways, and we want them to earn living wages that can keep them and their families as comfortable as possible. The Rivers State Government therefore, supports the ongoing consultations by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage for arriving at a new national minimum wage floor for the country”.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, said the exercise has been held across the six geo-political zones to ascertain the needs of Nigerian workers and employers to reach an acceptable and implementable wage. He said: “It is hoped that at the end of the exercise, we will be able to have women and men who will be engaged in productive work in equable conditions of freedom to associate and bargain collectively with equality and human dignity”

Ngige, who is also the chairman of Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage , said the aim is to ensure that the nation adopts a national minimum wage that would assure the attainment of social protection floor for Nigerian citizens.

Presenting the position of Nigerian Labour Congress in the South-South, Beatrice Otubo called for a living wage for workers.

Also speaking, representative of Trade Union Congress in the South-South, Austin Jonathan, pleaded that pensioners should be considered in the new wage regime. The public hearing attracted the representatives of the governors of Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Delta States. Also present at the meeting were labour leaders from the six states of the geo-political zone.

https://www.financialwatchngr.com/2018/04/28/governor-wants-different-minimum-wages-for-states/

Greedy Governors.
Anyways.
Bleep minimum wage. I know people earning 40k in FG government but have built house .
Don't be deceived your minimum wage is determined by your HARD work in life.

Think is a welcome statement it will enable competition among states.

in all these speech, i was expecting the governor to give an hint on how much the state can be willing to pay its workers ! but all I see is political talks....

The governor is just talking rubbish who, stops him from paying any amount above the stipulated minimum wage.

Nonsense

Well done sir, I c u. No be only by d capacity of their states.

Heartless governors

He actually make a good point, The like of Kogi, Benue, Osun are struggling to pay 18k minimum wage while the like of River, Anambra, Lagos ... Can pay more than that but there should be a standard across the federation.

Wetin this one dey talk?
E b like say this Wike na MUMU o

Ask these guys to set maximum wage, they won't hesitate...

Minimum wage hmmm

Nevertheless, the minimum wage to be fix by each state must not go below the proposed national minimum wage.

wickyyolo:
Greedy Governors.
Anyways.
Bleep minimum wage. I know people earning 40k in FG government but have built house .
Don't be deceived your minimum wage is determined by your HARD work in life.

I am not his fan but I think he has I point here. You cannot compare rivers with kaduna or lagos with Enugu. Their revenue generation is not the same, some states actually depends on other states for survival.

Due to corruption of d highest order, nt all state can pay the incoming and inconclusive minimum wage, the only state I trust right now is Lagos state

NLC should fight the cabals, executive and legislative to realise fully operational refineries without militants, steady power supply and see how the current minimum wage will be more than sufficient for average Nigerians.

The N66,500 minimum is unrealistic, unsustainable and unachievable considering the economic status of the country. Getting our refineries working will improve electricity supply through sufficient gas, reduce pressure on dollar leading to lower exchange rates and see drastic reduction in general price of petroleum products.

The major three components affecting general price of products and services in Nigeria are power, exchange rates and price of petroleum products. Do we have control on these three, Yes... NLC should stop chasing shadows because if the N66,500 minimum wage is implemented today, give it 3 months, that amount will not be able to take Nigerians home again become the economy will adjust and the money will become insufficient again.

baylord101:
He actually make a good point, The like of Kogi, Benue, Osun are struggling to pay 18k minimum wage while the like of River, Anambra, Lagos ... Can pay more than that but there should be a standard across the federation.

exactly, apart from osun states like ebonyi and Enugu

Even in developed society....wages are not equal in Nature.... But because of the fraudulent faulty system we run called unitary federalism .... We should unbundle this country Nigeria where the federal government will concentrate on protecting the image of the country via immigration,foreign policy internationaly.... That way all states will strive for greatness

Governors should be paid according to the revenues generated in their states because they preside over states that generate different revenues yet they are entitled to the same salary and allowances iirrespective of federal allocations and internally generated revenues.

baylord101:
He actually make a good point, The like of Kogi, Benue, Osun are struggling to pay 18k minimum wage while the like of River, Anambra, Lagos ... Can pay more than that but there should be a standard across the federation.

princeadams11:

I am not his fan but I think he has I point here. You cannot compare rivers with kaduna or lagos with Enugu. Their revenue generation is not the same, some states actually depends on other states for survival.

His point is not actually relevant.

Ideally, the federal (national) minimum wage is the lowest wage one could survive on anywhere in the country. Such that in high-income states with higher cost of living, the state minimum wage is much higher.

In the US for example, the minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since 2009. However as at Jan 2018, 29 of the 50+1 states have a higher state minimum wage. Only Wyoming has a special minimum wage less than the Federal minimum wage and Washington has the highest of $11.50/hr.

So if they're asking for states to make their own minimum wage. Of course they can, but it shouldn't be less than the Federal minimum wage. There's no reason why the minimum wage in Lagos, PH, Enugu, and FCT should be 18k right now, it should be much higher. If they know they can't pay as much, then the governors' forum should impress on labor to let the federal minimum wage go lower.

-Lord

baylord101:
He actually make a good point, The like of Kogi, Benue, Osun are struggling to pay 18k minimum wage while the like of River, Anambra, Lagos ... Can pay more than that but there should be a standard across the federation.

Pay more indeed

Are you aware Edo state pays N27,000 as minimum wage?

Nice point but many governor will misuse it.

But Governors and Legislative will not be paid base on the financial capability of their state abi.
They want to earn what state like Lagos earn, but they want to pay their workers differently. We ought to know Buhari is not only our problem

what wike said makes sense....

shigoawesu:
But Governors and Legislative will not be paid base on the financial capability of their state abi.
They want to earn what state like Lagos earn, but they want to pay their workers differently. We ought to know Buhari is not only our problem

you are right too....this should be valid for Governors and Legislators too....

LordAdam16:




His point is not actually relevant.

Ideally, the federal (national) minimum wage is the lowest wage one could survive on anywhere in the country. Such that in high-income states with higher cost of living, the state minimum wage is much higher.

In the US for example, the minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since 2009. However as at Jan 2018, 29 of the 50+1 states have a higher state minimum wage. Only Wyoming has a special minimum wage less than the Federal minimum wage and Washington has the highest of $11.50/hr.

So if they're asking for states to make their own minimum wage. Of course they can, but it shouldn't be less than the Federal minimum wage. There's no reason why the minimum wage in Lagos, PH, Enugu, and FCT should be 18k right now, it should be much higher. If they know they can't pay as much, then the governors' forum should impress on labor to let the federal minimum wage go lower.

-Lord

Stop siting example with US, US is an advance state. Let's work with what is on ground. With that we can draw better conclusions.

shey una see the problem....??....una would say regionalism is better....

but its still the poor against the rich situation...both are struggling for shares....wheather federal or regional,its still poor against rich drama....

thats why i dont understand when people talk about restrukturerinrin...its still the same situation....poor against rich....

Every state should pay according to its standards, 30k in lagos is different from 30k in kogi.