The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has given reasons why Nigerian Governors are not abiding by the 2019 Minimum Wage Act.
This was dis closed by the Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Chris Onyeka. He said many State Governors are flouting the Minimum Wage Act because they do not believe in sanctity of the law.
Onyeka gave this position in Abuja on Monday while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on minimum wage law and its implementation.
According to NAN, while workers are anxiously awaiting a new minimum wage to be passed into law, 15 States are yet to implement the N30,000 wage enacted in 2019.
This is even as there is an increased revenue accruable to the States after the fuel subsidy removal.
Recall that the removal of petroleum subsidy in 2023 had turned the nation’s economy upside down with its attendant hardship.
According to NAN, 15 States are yet to implement the minimum wage, in defiance of the 2019 Act. The States are, Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Niger, Borno, Sokoto, Anambra, Imo, Benue, Taraba, and Zamfara.
The NLC Assistant National Secretary said, “A State Governor who does not believe in the sanctity of the laws will have a high proclivity to disobey them.
“If you examine the history of some of these Governors and their handlers, you will find a preponderance of those who came to power by breaking the laws.
“Is it now that they will obey the National Minimum Wage Act?”.
Onyeka, therefore, said, “Many Governors were unwilling to pay civil servants their salaries because they see the State resources as theirs. And are, therefore, not willing to share with the workers, who create the wealth.
“Some Governors believe, erroneously, that workers’ salaries can wait. Or be toyed with without consequences, so they do not place priority to it.
“However, they forget that workers are human beings who need their salaries to meet their basic needs of life.”
The labour scribe also pointed out that fiscal indiscipline in many States is legendary. He, therefore, attributed that to the personal greed of some of the Governors. Which, he said, resulted in their appropriating State resources into their private pockets.
Onyeka reiterated the need to cut cost of governance at all levels to end wastages.
According to him, the measures to be taken include, reduction in the number of political appointees to reduce overhead. As well as a reduction in the number of logistics, official, and operational vehicles.
He said the salaries and allowances of elected and appointed officials of the three arms of government should be in sync with what is receivable by civil servants.
Onyeka said government at all levels should streamline procurement processes. This, he said, is to ensure integrity, accountability, fiscal discipline, and transparency.
He said, “Governors should ensure budgetary fidelity. They should shun fund diversions, and stop making provisions that allow for looting of the States.
“They should stay more in their States instead of constantly being in Abuja. And spending a lot of money maintaining two State houses,” he said.
On the minimum wage law, Onyeka said the principles of law enforcement should be deployed. This, he said, would make the Governors to pay the wages.
According to him, the National Minimum Wage Act has clauses that take care of monitoring and compliance. He, however, noted that the challenge is at the level of enforcement.
“The Federal allocation to such States, once it is established that they are habitual breakers of the law, should be sequestered until they are compelled to pay.
“The labour unions should also be empowered and supported in their actions against such States to pay.
“The Judiciary should be strengthened, especially the National Industrial Court, to carry out its responsibilities effectively,
“The court should not only give rulings but also issue enforceable garnishee orders against such State Governments,” the scribe said.
source: NAN
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