The Kaduna State Government has implemented the newly approved national minimum wage, with the least-paid worker in the state earning N72,000 in gross salary for November.
This development counters allegations by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that the state has failed to comply with the new wage standards.
Reports indicate that while many states pledged to exceed the N70,000 minimum wage benchmark, Kaduna State has gone further by offering N72,000.
Despite this, the Kaduna chapter of the NLC has confirmed its readiness to join the nationwide strike initiated by the national body. Ayuba Suleiman, the state NLC chairman, reiterated the union’s stance, stating on Saturday, “Yes, we are set for the strike.”
In response, Ibraheem Musa, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, described the NLC’s claims as “a misrepresentation,” maintaining that the state has fully adhered to the National Minimum Wage Law.
“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, has complied with the spirit and letter of the National Minimum Wage Law, by paying the lowest-paid civil servant N72,000 last month,” Musa stated.
He further explained that while the NLC has been advocating for consequential salary adjustments, the government argued that this demand is distinct from implementing the minimum wage. Musa outlined the state’s financial position, revealing that Kaduna generates a combined monthly revenue of N12 billion—N8 billion from the Federal Account Allocation Committee and N4 billion internally.
However, the state’s wage bill has surged from N5.4 billion to N6.3 billion following the minimum wage implementation, leaving only N2 billion for essential services after accounting for a N4 billion monthly loan repayment.
“It is unfair for the Kaduna State Government to allocate almost all its revenue to consequential adjustments after meeting the mandatory minimum wage. There are over 10 million residents entitled to benefit from the state’s revenue, not just the 84,827 civil servants who make up about 1% of the population,” Musa argued.
He urged the NLC to be patient regarding the adjustments, emphasizing the government’s commitment to labor-friendly policies.
“Governor Uba Sani is Labour-friendly. He has demonstrated this by providing buses for civil servants to commute to work free of charge, as part of the palliatives to cushion the prevailing economic challenges,” he added.
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