According to a report from The Punch, Biodun Oyebanji, the governor of Ekiti State, has emphasized that Nigerian governors are not opposed to approving a living wage for workers.
Instead, they are advocating for fiscal federalism to ensure that individual states can financially support such wages.
Speaking during the 7th quadrennial delegates’ conference of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) in Ado Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji stressed the need for increased allocations to enable state governments to meet the new minimum wage demands.
He highlighted the importance of each state assessing its financial capability to avoid the risk of staff layoffs.
Governor Oyebanji stated, “No governor wants to retrench. If there is a minimum wage today without a concurrent increment in what we are earning, no state can pay.
We want to give you a living wage, but we must look at what comes to the states and whatever is in the best interest of the states and the workers, we will do.”
Negotiations regarding the new minimum wage have been ongoing for several months without reaching an agreement.
While organized labor has been demanding an increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 due to rising inflation and escalating food prices, the federal government has proposed N62,000.
However, labor unions have insisted on a minimum wage of N250,000.
Governor Oyebanji’s stance, as reported by The Punch, aligns with the broader conversation among Nigerian governors, who seek to ensure that any wage increase is sustainable and does not lead to unintended consequences, such as job losses.
The governor’s call for fiscal federalism aims to provide states with the autonomy to determine their financial capabilities and make informed decisions regarding wage adjustments.
As discussions continue, the focus remains on balancing the need for a living wage with the financial realities faced by individual states.
Governor Oyebanji’s advocacy for fiscal federalism highlights the ongoing efforts to achieve a solution that benefits both workers and state governments………See More
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