20 States, FCT Yet to Commence Payment of Minimum Wage
It has been discovered that only 16 out of 36 states in Nigeria have commenced payment of the new minimum wage structure to their workers.
The states that have complied with the new wage structure are Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Jigawa, Gombe, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi, and Kwara.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, as well as 20 state governors, have been criticized for their failure to implement the new minimum wage, leaving thousands of workers in those states in a state of uncertainty and financial hardship.
The development has sparked widespread outrage among Labour unions and civil society organizations, who have described the situation as “unacceptable” and “a shame” on the part of the non-compliant governors.
The non-compliant states have been accused of prioritizing other expenditure over the welfare of their workers, with some governors allegedly using the state funds to finance their political ambitions.
The situation has also raised questions about the fundamentals of governance in Nigeria, with many wondering why some governors are able to pay the new minimum wage while others are unable to do so.
“This is a clear indication of the flawed governance structure in Nigeria, where some states are able to prioritize the welfare of their workers while others are unable to do so,” It is high time for the federal government to take decisive action to address this anomaly and ensure that all states are able to pay the new minimum wage.
As the situation continues to unfold, workers in the non-compliant states are growing increasingly restless, with many calling for urgent action to be taken to address their plight.
“We are tired of empty promises and excuses from our governors,” said an individual on X(formerly known as twitter). “We demand that they take immediate action to pay us the new minimum wage, or face the consequences.”
The federal government has been urged to intervene in the matter and ensure that all states comply with the new minimum wage law.
