South West Governors List Condition for Sustainable Payment of the Proposed New Wage

Governors in the South West Region have listed conditions for the implementation of the proposed new wage about to be negotiated.

The governors admit that the current National Minimum Wage is unacceptable, and requires an upward adjustment.

Governor Ademola Adeleke stated this on Thursday while presenting the memorandum of six governors in the region before the open hearing of the southwest zone on the new national minimum wage about to be negotiated.

Finance Minister, Wale Edun presided over the zonal open hearing held in Lagos, during which the organized labour and the organized private sector presented their separate memorandum.

Adeleke said there was the urgent need for the upward review of the formula being used for sharing revenue in the federation account, to ensure sustainable implementation of the proposed national minimum wage.

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The governor also said the southwest governors want the solid mineral to be removed from the exclusive list of the constitution to allow states to control their mineral resources.

Also, they advocated that each state government should be allowed to negotiate the proposed new minimum wage with labour leaders in their respective states.

As we offer opinions on minimum wage, I will admonish all workers both in the private sector and public service to improve their productivity.

This is a way to ensure the sustainability of the new minimum wage when it is eventually approved.

Our position from Osun State is that workers deserve improved wages and salaries. Osun state government is in support of a new and realistic minimum wage for all workers within the limit of the available resources in a very sustainable manner.

While it would be desirable to see that a uniform minimum wage is agreed to on a national basis, it would amount to self-deceit to assume that states have equal ability to pay.

To this effect, I will humbly advise that individual states would have to negotiate with their workers and agree to a realistic and sustainable minimum wage in line with the available resources.