Governors Opposed To Living Wage Are Selfish – NLC

…Says, they can’t even give such paltry sum to their side chicks

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken a swipe at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for opposing an increase in the minimum wage of workers in the country, saying they are selfish and only concerned with their pockets.

The Forum in a statement on Friday, June 7, 2024 rejected an upward review of the minimum wage from N30,000 to the N60,000 being proposed by the Federal Government, stressing that it was not sustainable and realistic.

However, in a swift reaction, Comrade Benson Upah, spokesperson of the NLC, accused governors opposed to the new minimum wage of selfishness.

Asked if the if state governments could afford to pay N494,000 as the new minimum wage, Upah stressed that most of the state governors were selfish, adding that even the current N30,000 minimum wage was not being paid by some of the states.

Upah stressed that those who claim they cannot afford to pay the minimum wage would cannot give such money to their side chicks because they know is too little.

He said that Lagos and Edo states are currently paying N70,000 while more governors are willing to pay a reasonable rate.

The NLC said; “Those who are lawbreakers should be recognised as lawbreakers. It will not make their treasury richer or bigger. It will only end up impoverishing the state because workers’ wages drive the economy of most states”.

Reacting to the statement credited to Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who said he would not be able to pay each of his four drivers N100,000 monthly in light of the new minimum wage, Upah said he should be asked what he is doing with four drivers.

Upah further said; “It is unfortunate that the SGF is instigating the governors or using his office to discourage the government from paying the new minimum wage proposed by the NLC.

“The capacity to pay a reasonable national minimum wage was not dependent on surplus resources but rather on the necessity to do the right thing.

“Our concern is not at the pleasure of the governor or government officials; it is a necessity, a need,” Upah said.