NULGE Alleges 20 out of 36 Governors Fail to Implement N70,000 Minimum Wage

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has accused 20 state governments of failing to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage for local government workers and primary school teachers.

This comes months after President Bola Tinubu signed the bill into law, bringing hope to thousands of workers who have been struggling to make ends meet.

According to NULGE National President, Alhaji Haruna Kankara, the affected states include Yobe, Gombe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Borno, the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), and 11 others.

Kankara expressed frustration and disappointment in an interview with a national newspaper, stating that despite repeated engagements with these governments, many have failed to fulfill their promises to pay the new minimum wage.

The new wage, which represents a significant 133% increase from the previous N30,000 minimum, was signed into law on July 29, 2024, after prolonged negotiations between labour unions and the federal government.

However, the implementation of the new wage has been uneven across states, leaving many local government workers and primary school teachers stranded.

While some states like Lagos, Rivers, Niger, and Akwa Ibom have begun paying the new minimum wage, others have either delayed payments or selectively excluded local government workers and teachers from the payroll. “Some states started paying civil servants but left out local government staff and primary school teachers,” Kankara lamented. “We’ve engaged these governments repeatedly, but many have failed to fulfill their promises.”

The delay in implementing the new minimum wage has left thousands of local government workers and primary school teachers in a precarious situation, struggling to pay their bills and provide for their families. The NULGE has called on the affected state governments to take immediate action to implement the new minimum wage, warning that further delays could lead to industrial action.

As the crisis deepens, the NULGE has vowed to continue its fight for the rights of local government workers and primary school teachers, demanding that state governments honor their commitments and pay the new minimum wage without further delay. With the livelihoods of thousands of workers hanging in the balance, the clock is ticking for the 20 state governments under fire to take action and avoid a potentially devastating showdown with the NULGE.

The minimum wage crisis has sparked widespread concern and outrage, with many Nigerians taking to social media to express their support for the affected workers and condemn the state governments for their inaction. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the NULGE will not back down in its fight for the rights of local government workers and primary school teachers, and the state governments under fire will be held accountable for their actions.