A month after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the N70,000 National Minimum Wage Act, most states in the federation have yet to take meaningful steps toward implementing the law. So far, only Adamawa State has started paying the new wage, while a few other states have established committees to work on its implementation, but their reports are still pending,leadership reports.
The situation is further complicated by the federal government’s delay in providing a template for the consequential adjustments necessary for full-scale implementation of the new wage. According to LEADERSHIP Weekend’s investigation, even organized labor has decided to wait for these adjustment guidelines before entering into further negotiations with state governments. Labor leaders told our correspondents that any negotiations without this template would be futile.
They urged their members to remain patient until the modalities are released to ensure better outcomes from future negotiations.
President Tinubu signed the wage law on July 29, 2024, after extended negotiations with organized labor.
Before the president’s assent, the Edo State government had already increased its workers’ minimum wage to N70,000, making Adamawa and Edo the only states out of the 36 in the federation currently paying the new wage.
In Akwa Ibom State, LEADERSHIP Weekend learned that the state’s Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has yet to initiate discussions on the wage ceiling for its workforce. NLC Chairman Sunny James and Head of Service Elder Effiong Essien explained that they are awaiting the federal government’s circular on consequential adjustments before proceeding with the implementation.
“We have not started anything on the new minimum wage in Akwa Ibom. The process requires the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), in conjunction with the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to agree on the consequential adjustments. The Akwa Ibom State governor has not refused to pay the N70,000 minimum wage, and we will not accept anything less,” James said.
In Zamfara State, the government announced plans to set up a committee to determine how to pay the new minimum wage. The Director-General of Media and Communications, Nuhu Salihu Anka, confirmed that the government is moving toward implementing the wage but needs to finalize payment modalities.
Similarly, the Kano State NLC Chairman, Kabiru Inuwa, said they are waiting for the National Income and Wages Commission to release the adjustment guidelines, which will inform their negotiations with the state government. Without these guidelines, there is no basis for discussions, he noted, pointing out that even the federal government has not yet started implementation.
In Sokoto State, there has been no official move to implement the new salary scheme. The state government has neither formed a committee to work out the payment modalities nor taken a clear position on whether it will pay the new wage. Meanwhile, state workers are waiting to see how the state NLC executives will approach the situation.
In Plateau State, Information Commissioner Hon. Musa Ashoms stated that the government is assessing whether it can pay the new minimum wage. The state NLC Chairman, Comrade Eugene Mangji, mentioned that although the president has signed the law, the state government has not yet issued any directive regarding payment.
Cross River State NLC Chairman Comrade Gregory Olayi said the union is waiting for the federal government’s template before forcing the state to begin payment. The state’s Chief Press Secretary, Nsa Gill, confirmed that the government is still paying N40,000, as it has not yet found a way to comply with the federal directives.
In Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has promised to implement the N70,000 minimum wage, but no date has been set. The state’s Joint Negotiation Council has formed a nine-member Technical Committee to work on wage implementation. Talks between labor and the government are ongoing, according to the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Wale Akinlosotu.
The Ebonyi State government has also assured workers of its readiness to implement the new wage once all issues are resolved and the salary chart is made available. NLC Chairman Comrade Oguguo Egwu stated that they are waiting for the national directive to initiate the process.
In Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah has inaugurated a committee to implement the new minimum wage, giving it a one-month deadline to submit its report.
Federal civil servants have expressed frustration over the delay in implementing the new minimum wage, hoping that the payments will begin soon to alleviate their financial struggles amid the rising cost of living. A senior director at the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, who preferred to remain anonymous, said it’s uncertain when the implementation will start, but it may be reflected in the September salary.
Union leader Tersoo Zamber noted that the delay is concerning, especially given the country’s economic challenges. He urged the government to begin implementation immediately and pay arrears from May, emphasizing that workers’ patience should not be taken for granted.
