Minimum Wage: Agreement is not binding on states-Governors

By Usman Idakwo

Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF has asserted that the agreement between the federal government and organised labour on consequential adjustments on the new minimum wage is not binding on state governments.

Chairman of NGF, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, stated this while briefing reporters at the end of a meeting of the 36 state governors at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, in Abuja.

Fayemi recalled that the federal government and labour on October 18 announced an agreement on the implementation of the new national minimum wage.

The agreement over consequential adjustments averted a strike that labour had threatened to call should government further delay the take-off of the new minimum wage.

The Federal Executive Council, FEC at its meeting which was presided over by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, approved the agreement and set dates for the take-off of the new wage and payment of the arrears.

FEC directed that the payment of the new salary structure should take effect from April 18 and the arrears cleared by 31 December, 2019.