Nigerian governor promises to pay workers above N30,000 minimum wage

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of  Lagos State has assured workers in the state that his government will pay above the mandatory N30,000 national minimum wage signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 24, 2019.

He gave the assurance when he received the leadership of the Lagos councils of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday.

The Federal Government and organised labour are still embroiled in negotiation of the consequential adjustment of salaries of workers from grade level 07 to 17. The implementation of the minimum wage has, however, began in some states for workers on grade level 01 to 06.

Sanwo-Olu addressing the labour leaders said the implementation of the new wage would begin in Lagos when the Federal Government and labour unions conclude their ongoing negotiations. The state, he said, was drawing up its finances and creating additional revenue sources that would enable it sustain the new minimum wage payment.

Sanwo-Olu said his government understood the day-by-day challenges being faced by workers in the State to do their tasks, which informed the decision by his administration to pay more than the N30,000 minimum wage benchmark.

“As a government, we take the issue of minimum wage seriously. We know how important and germane it is to the wellbeing of our people. We are technically ready to implement the new minimum wage. I made commitment during my previous interactions with the labour unions before my assumption of office and I am still keeping to the promise made. However little it is, we will certainly pay more than N30,000 minimum wage.

Sanwo-Olu also said that the government would works with the the labour unions to float a post-retirement housing scheme that would enable workers of all cadres to apply and acquire permanent homes after leaving the service.

Meanwhile, the unions have demanded the payment of arrears of medical allowance, introduction of premium insurance for the workforce, timely pension payment for retired workers, mortgage scheme for housing, befitting labour secretariat and representation of workers’ unions in MDA boards’ appointments.

Gbenga Ekundayo, chairman, TUC Lagos council said that the labour unions had been meeting to develop a framework that would make the government capture traders in informal sector in the tax net. He assured that the labour unions’ recommendations would be submitted to the office of Head of Service in the weeks ahead.