The former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe has disagreed with the National Minimum Wage Act, which requires all 36 state governors in Nigeria to pay a uniform minimum wage to workers in their respective states.
Okupe made these comments during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday. Okupe argued that the law should not be overly broad and mandatory for all governors, as each state has its unique financial capabilities. He used the example of Lagos and Sokoto, stating that what is affordable in Lagos may not be the same in Sokoto.
Therefore, he believes that each governor should decide on the minimum wage for their state based on their own people’s needs and financial capabilities. Okupe also suggested that the President should focus on the federal government’s responsibilities and allow state governments and labor unions to negotiate their own minimum wages. The debate on the new minimum wage has been ongoing for several months, with labor unions and the federal government at odds over the proposed amount.
The unions had issued an ultimatum, which expired on May 31, and subsequently went on strike on June 3, shutting down businesses across the country. The strike was suspended on Tuesday after the federal government promised to increase the minimum wage to an amount greater than N60,000, and negotiations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, the 36 state governors have expressed concerns that the proposed N60,000 minimum wage is not sustainable and cannot be implemented. They fear that if implemented, many states would have to use their entire monthly allocations from the federation account to pay workers’ salaries. The governors have appealed to the tripartite committee to agree on a minimum wage that is fair and sustainable