Resign if you can’t meet new N70,000 minimum wage – NLC knocks Gov Inuwa

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for governors who are unable to implement the newly established N70,000 minimum wage to resign from their positions.

This statement comes in response to Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s declaration that his administration cannot afford the increased wage.

Governor Yahaya, who also chairs the Northern Governors’ Forum, made his comments during a recent meeting with labor leaders, civil society organizations, and trade associations at the Gombe Government House.

In response, Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Public Relations, urged Yahaya to step down, emphasizing that he has sworn to uphold the law.

The Trade Union Congress has yet to release an official statement regarding this issue. This development follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent signing of the Minimum Wage Act, which officially sets the minimum wage at N70,000 after extensive negotiations with labor unions, who initially sought a figure exceeding N250,000 per month.

Earlier discussions between the Federal Government, organized labor, and the private sector led to a consensus on the N70,000 wage. Following these discussions, the Federal Executive Council instructed the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning to prepare a bill to amend the 2024 Budget.

President Tinubu subsequently requested an amendment to the 2024 Appropriation Act and the 2023 Finance Act from the Senate, proposing an increase of N6.2 trillion to the budget. This request was formally presented to the Senate President and discussed in a plenary session.

This action aligns with Section 58 (2) of the Constitution and aims to address compliance with the new minimum wage law.