By Bolarinwa Kabir
The Governors under the aegis of the Southern Governors’ Forum on Thursday (yesterday) called for the consideration of the ability of each state to pay the new minimum wage.
Their call came as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Wednesday night stated that it will continue to engage stakeholders to reach a mutually agreeable solution to the new minimum wage crisis.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in an unusual way available at the National Economic Council meeting which is often chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said no word about the new minimum wage. The vice president said nothing about it as well.
The governors in a 16-point communique issued on Thursday also advocated that each state be allowed to negotiate the new wage with the labour unions.
“The Forum discussed the minimum wage issues demanded by labour and unanimously agreed that the minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living and that each state should be allowed to negotiate its minimum wage.
‘’This led to the forum’s discussion on fiscal federalism and devolution of powers,” the communique read.
At the meeting were governors of Oyo, Zamfara, Anambra, Delta, Gombe, Kano, Imo, Kwara, Ondo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Sokoto, Ogun States, among others.
Deputy governors of Akwa Ibom, Osun, Borno States, and others were also at the meeting.