Why northern states can’t pay minimum wage, by Zamfara gov .
Monday, 20 June 2011 00:00 From Isah Ibrahim, Gusau News - National .User Rating: / 0
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ZAMFARA State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar has ruled out the possibility of any of the 19 northern states implementing the new N18,000 minimum wage for workers with the current federal allocation to states.

Fielding questions from journalists at his home-town, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State at the weekend, Yari expressed concern over the total dependence of northern states on the statutory federal allocation.

According to him, the current internally-generated revenue by the northern states could not help in the implementation of the new minimum wage approved for workers in the country by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The governor revealed that for any northern state to implement the N18,000 minimum wage, it required an increase of almost 100 per cent of its total statutory monthly allocation from the Federal Government.

According to him, the 19 northern governors will soon meet with a view to reaching a general accord on the feasibility or otherwise of implementing the N18,000 new minimum wage for workers of their various states.

The governor maintained that his state last received N3.2 billion from the federation account with an additional sum of about N200 million as its internally-generated revenue, noting that a total sum of over N1.1 billion is currently spent monthly on workers’ salaries.

“It is very disturbing when you look at the level of our internally-generated revenue in the northern part of the country. The state that is leading in generating big money from the northern states is Kano, which often generates about N2 billion monthly while Lagos State is internally generating N23 billion”, Yari said.

He added: “We are not saying that we are not going to implement the new minimum wage for our workers, but we are going to sit with the leadership of the Labour union to reach a consensus. Very soon, the northern governors are going to meet to take a decision on minimum wage. However, we seriously need additional funds from the federation account to succeed in its implementation. I inherited over 28,000 workers in my state”.

Yari lamented the way the immediate past administration of the state left the government account with no single kobo. He said he inherited a debt of over N42 billion from banks and contractors.

According to the governor, the immediate past government of the state had awarded a total of 486 different projects worth N62.7 billion but only paid N16 billion.

He said: “The unfortunate thing is how we met an empty treasury and with a huge amount of millions of naira as over-withdrawn despite the N3.2 billion they received for May allocation. I learnt that they paid themselves all their entitlements for both governor, the deputy, commissioners and special advisers, council chairmen and their council members, among others”.

Like I said, these Northerners are the problem.

EzeUche!:

Like I said, these Northerners are the problem.

S’East govs: N18,000 wage not feasible

Monday, 13 June 2011 00:00
Nigerian Compass
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•TUC, workers threaten showdown

IN a move seen as testing the resolve of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to launch an attack against any governor not willing to pay the N18,000 minimum wage, South-East governors yesterday declared their resolve not to pay the sum.

To the five governors – Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Peter Obi (Anambra), Theodore Orji (Abia), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo) – unless the present revenue formula is reviewed in favour of states, it would be difficult for them to pay workers the N18,000 minimum wage.

But, the workers immediately declared war on the governors.

The National Vice President of the Nigerian Civil Service Union (South-East), Comrade Tony Ude, the governors are looking for trouble.

At the governors’ meeting yesterday at the Government House, Enugu, were the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Raph Uwechue, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emekia Ihedioha, and others.

The communique was read by Obi who is the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum.



Obi declared that the five govenors were committed to the payment of the N18,000 minimum wage but this can only be done if the revenue formula is reviewed.

He said: “We join the clamour for the review of revenue sharing formula so as to help the states pay the new minimum wage”.

He further hinted that the meeting agreed that South-East states would collectively complete the Zik’s Centre in Enugu. Yet, the Zik’s Mausoleum project in Onitsha, which appears jinxed, has remained uncompleted for more than a decade after the death of the frontline nationalist, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

The communiqué also clarified that the leaders would henceforth meet regularly to discuss issues affecting the Ndigbo and the nation as well as to work together for the common interest of the people of the area, not minding their political differences.

The leaders also wished Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu a quick recovery while expressing support for the Federal Government under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ude, who spoke with the Nigerian Compass, said workers would kick against the governors’ resolve to deny them their rights.

He said: “What they are saying amounts to a gang-up against South-East workers and we will not take it easy with them. Why didn’t they raise this when the law was in the making? Why is it only in the South-East that the governors and the political leaders are coming to say that they can’t pay? If it is a joke, they should stop it immediately because workers will fight them”.

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has kicked against the refusal of some governors to pay the minimum wage, stressing that the governors lack the power to give conditions before they implement the new wage since the law was made by the National Assembly, and assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan.

TUC said it was wrong for the governors, who had promised to pay the new wage during their election campaigns to turn around, and say they will only pay it whenever the revenue sharing formula is adjusted to favour them.

The Rivers State TUC chairman, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, in a statement, noted that it was wrong for the governors to decide the laws to obey, and the ones that should be disregarded in a constitutional democracy. He pointed out that the posture of the governors could lead to anarchy.

He said: “The TUC expresses her displeasure at the unwillingness of the governors to respect the National Minimum Wage Amended Act, 2011. It would be recalled that many of these governors promised to pay the new minimum wage during their electioneering campaigns only to turn around after the election to say they can only pay the wage if and when the revenue sharing formula is adjusted in their favour.

“We are deeply worried that governors, in a constitutional democracy, choose which laws to obey and which not to obey; and shocked at the insistence of the governors that they will not obey a law validly made by the National Assembly, and assented to by the President unless there is an amendment of another law.”

Onuegbu said that workers across the country are expecting to be paid arrears of the new minimum wage, and urged the governors to pay them.



^^^^Read, so that you may know better.Also improve on you sentimental vulnerability !!!! If you can tell me that the entire south east IGR is uniform and not a single state survives on FG allocation.

^^^^^^^^

haka nai nago de

thank you so much for that post

28,000 workers. 1.1 billion a month on salaries. So roughly on average N40k/head in worker salaries.

Something seems a bit screwy here. Average salary is already double minimum wage, yet they cannot implement the minimum wage? Does this mean that most of these workers are well below the minimum, and a select few are taking home the lion's share of the money spent on worker pay?

I'm not convinced any more that any of the Nigerian states cannot afford to pay this minimum salary. It might require you to compress the wage scale a bit, eliminate ghost workers, and cut out the fat elsewhere.

But I guess easier to just ask for more cash from the FG than to take these steps.

they lack the vision to make all that work.

i honestly think states should be allowed to decided their own minimum wage.
Rivers doesn't make the same amount of money as Zamafara.

hmmm. . .so with the exception of Lagos, (23billion, not bad), and perhaps Rivers State, virtually all the other states are almost 100% dependent on the FG for payment of salaries.

And the agitation for new States still continues. . .

I bet all those people they are paying have no secondary school education and cannot read and right. Wasted Bunch.

Mai Suya:

hmmm. . .so with the exception of Lagos, (23billion, not bad), and perhaps Rivers State, virtually all the other states are almost 100% dependent on the FG for payment of salaries.

And the agitation for new States still continues. . .

I wonder where he got this 23 billion figure from. Oyo claimed Lagos has 20 billion, Lagos denied having that much. Hrm. . .

ekt_bear:

I wonder where he got this 23 billion figure from. Oyo claimed Lagos has 20 billion, Lagos denied having that much. Hrm. . .

No kidding! Lagos, indeed, has officially denied the figures:

Describing the advertorial’s reference to Lagos State IGR as “inaccurate”, the state government further stated, “For the records, the internally generated Revenue (IGR) of Lagos State is yet to reach N20 billion per month. It is, therefore, inaccurate to report that Lagos State IGR is N20 billion”.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/23635--we-paid-minimun-wage-to-motivate-workers-lagos-govt-denies-claim-its-monthly-igr-is-n20bn


I wonder where they (Oyo, Zamfara, et al) got those figures from. . .estimates?

I think its about 16b, with the guy in charge saying if they work harder by 2012 they can realise 20b

Mai Suya:

hmmm. . .so with the exception of Lagos, (23billion, not bad), and perhaps Rivers State, virtually all the other states are almost 100% dependent on the FG for payment of salaries.

And the agitation for new States still continues. . .

I think all those state receiving 13% should be able to comfortably pay the minimum and Rivers should be talking 20k minimum sef

They should cut their 'security votes' by 50% instead of transferring the billions to their godfathers and political parties


Guess this is the first showdown for Jonathan

No N18,000 minimum wage –Ajimobi tells Oyo workers
PostDateIcon Friday, 10 June 2011 09:16 | PostAuthorIcon Author: TransparencyNG | Print E-mail
Oyo State workers are spoiling for war following Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s declaration that the state economic strength could not support the payment of the 18, 000 minimum wage.

Ajimobi spoke yesterday during an unscheduled visit to the premises of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (because). But the workers said that it is either the government pay the new minimum wage or contend with an indefinite strike, demanding that last month’s salary should be paid based on table prepared by Ajimobi’s predecessor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala. The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has, however, met with Labour leaders in the state, urging the workers to accept the wage being offered by the government.

Oba Adeyemi urged Labour leaders to support the government’s efforts to develop the state. Pleading with the workers not to embark on strike as threatened, Ajimobi said that he is aware that they earned the least in the South-West. He pleaded with the workers to allow him effect an increase that will make them be at par with the highest paying state in the region and shelve the N18, 000 minimum wage till the state’s income improves. Ajimobi said: “Among the 36 states of the federation, how many have started paying the money? Even the Federal Government that signed it into law is yet to implement it. We have asked the Federal Government to give us more money so that we will be able to pay the wage, but it has not done it.” (National Mirror)

http://www.transparencyng.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4585:no-n18000-minimum-wage-ajimobi-tells-oyo-workers&catid=67:politics&Itemid=86

Amosun defies Ogun workers, set to sack 2,000

Monday, 20 June 2011 00:00
Nigerian Compass
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THREE days to the deadline given by the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to Governor Ibikunle Amosun to take a definite position on the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage, the governor has defied the workers.

Rather than meet them on how the wage will be paid, Amosun is set to sack about 2,000 of them.

Last week, the NLC Chairman, Comrade Akeem Ambali, told reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, that labour leaders agreed on the ultimatum to drive home their demand for the commencement of the minimum wage.

But, at the weekend, it was learnt that Amosun directed that workers, totalling 1,994, recruited by the last administration in the Gateway State, be disengaged from the state’s public service.

The directive states, however, that those disengaged could re-apply to be interviewed afresh for employment into the public service.



In a swift reaction to this development, the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Sina Kawonise, said the disengagement of the workers was in line with Amosun’s determination to reverse key decisions and actions of the Otunba Gbenga Daniel-led administration without any rational basis.

He explained that those that were employed in the last six months of the last administration were recruited through the due process to replace existing vacancies in the state’s public service.

He said: “1,540 either resigned or retired from the state’s public service to meet the Dec 31, 2010 deadline for the cross-over to the new Pension Scheme. While those that retired and resigned their appointments saved the government N100 million on the monthly wage bill, all the new recruitments added an additional N80 million to the wage bill. This, therefore, means that a net of N20 million monthly remains as saving to the Government of Ogun State.

“Governor Amosun gave the directive to pave the way for the employment of his supporters in the ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria ) and his former party, the ANPP (All Nigeria Peoples Party), who he had promised to employ in the state’s public service within his first 100 days in office. But it must be stated once again that those recruited by the last administration are bonafide indigenes of Ogun State who went through the due process and whose appointments were not based on political or party affiliation”.



http://www.compassnewspaper.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8352:-amosun-defies-ogun-workers-set-to-sack-2000&catid=308:headlines&Itemid=600

I am sure they can all pay it, but if they do, there will be nothing left for Swiss bank accounts.

ZnO:

Amosun defies Ogun workers, set to sack 2,000

Monday, 20 June 2011 00:00
Nigerian Compass
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THREE days to the deadline given by the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to Governor Ibikunle Amosun to take a definite position on the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage, the governor has defied the workers.

Rather than meet them on how the wage will be paid, Amosun is set to sack about 2,000 of them.

Last week, the NLC Chairman, Comrade Akeem Ambali, told reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, that labour leaders agreed on the ultimatum to drive home their demand for the commencement of the minimum wage.

But, at the weekend, it was learnt that Amosun directed that workers, totalling 1,994, recruited by the last administration in the Gateway State, be disengaged from the state’s public service.

The directive states, however, that those disengaged could re-apply to be interviewed afresh for employment into the public service.



In a swift reaction to this development, the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Sina Kawonise, said the disengagement of the workers was in line with Amosun’s determination to reverse key decisions and actions of the Otunba Gbenga Daniel-led administration without any rational basis.

He explained that those that were employed in the last six months of the last administration were recruited through the due process to replace existing vacancies in the state’s public service.

He said: “1,540 either resigned or retired from the state’s public service to meet the Dec 31, 2010 deadline for the cross-over to the new Pension Scheme. While those that retired and resigned their appointments saved the government N100 million on the monthly wage bill, all the new recruitments added an additional N80 million to the wage bill. This, therefore, means that a net of N20 million monthly remains as saving to the Government of Ogun State.

“Governor Amosun gave the directive to pave the way for the employment of his supporters in the ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria ) and his former party, the ANPP (All Nigeria Peoples Party), who he had promised to employ in the state’s public service within his first 100 days in office. But it must be stated once again that those recruited by the last administration are bonafide indigenes of Ogun State who went through the due process and whose appointments were not based on political or party affiliation”.



http://www.compassnewspaper.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8352:-amosun-defies-ogun-workers-set-to-sack-2000&catid=308:headlines&Itemid=600

I need a job as a research tech. I have a DSc in Hydroponics. Any luck?

Dis Guy:

I think its about 16b, with the guy in charge saying if they work harder by 2012 they can realise 20b

16B -2b =14 B

Remember, N2 B goes to Asiwaju's account, EVERY MONTH. For just being Asiwaju.

That is how we Yorubas like it.

So technically, Lagos IGR is 14 Billion

lol @ iragbiji ile

One day you'll have to tell me what exactly he did to you, fstranger

okay is now the gov. Of zamfara know that lagos generate 23billion while kano generate 2billion gud, that is as results of ur crises, everyday in the north which have scared investors

But on a more serious note, what do the civil servants do? And why can't they generate revenue for themselves?

NTA, Road Safety, Ministry of Agriculture, Immigration, Foreign affairs, Education etc can at least generate some part of income. What do this folks do and if they don't contribute then why are they paid?

I refuse to accept and completely dont understand why these governments are adamant they cannot pay the minimum wage?? How many people do they have working? if its too many why soo many?? a small state doesnt need a million workers? what will they be administrating, its not iike these governments are efficient in anything.

he better keep quiet and pay the minimum wage or face consequences! if he cannot do it, let him step down so someone else can!

What we really need is true federation.

Each of these governors run to Abuja at the end of every month to collect the statutory allocation.And thats about it

EzeUche!:

Like I said, these Northerners are the problem.

i d tell u. northerners are why we r like this. imagine kano having 44 lg. they dnt pay tax. they dnt project d image of dis country well. notin. at d beginin of every month they there billionss. worst is they never appreciate our gesture.i wish for dis integration. let them start eating stone.

These monies can be paid if the government in the respective states are serious.Streamline the civil service,eliminate duplicitous offices & roles,cross check,double check & re check for ghost workers.Furthermore, reduce corruption to its barest minimum & you'll have enough to go round.Anything short of this is a complete waste of time.

I think this idea of 18k is a very good one coming on the heels of the calls for a new revenue sharing formula in favour of the states.If this new formula comes into place then the states can have more to develop themselves and the attraction for abuja will be reduced.

link=topic=695016.msg8555856#msg8555856 date=1308588431]
Like I said, these Northerners are the problem.
[quote][/quote]

And you must be the solution

9ja i hail thee!

kcswat:

i d tell u. northerners are why we r like this. imagine kano having 44 lg. they dnt pay tax. they dnt project d image of dis country well. notin. at d beginin of every month they there billionss. worst is they never appreciate our gesture.i wish for dis integration. let them start eating stone.

another educated illiterate. How would they northerners eat stones when they are the agricultural hub of nigeria? FYI 1000 naira food worth down south is equivalent to like 200 naira food worth up north. FACT. So a 10,000 naira earner up north is betteroff than a 20,000 naira earner down south.