Governors not against new minimum wage, says Gov. Sule

Kunle Sanni

The governor of Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule, said the governorrs are not agaiinst new minimum wage, but worried about worker welfare.

Following a meeting with Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Sule told State House media in Abuja on Wednesday that governors support the new minimum wage for workers.

According to Sule, Nasarawa has been offering its employees extra incentives and paying the N30,000 minimum salary since 2019.

According to the governor, he is not aware of any state where the minimum salary of N30,000 is not paid by the government.

“We are concerned about the welfare of the workers. In fact, we are paying some special allowances called hazard allowances, even to our medical workers, as I am talking to you right now,” he said.

“So I don’t think governors have any problem with the payment of the minimum wage.

“I don’t speak for the governors. Our chairman, the Governor of Kwara, actually speaks for the governors, and he will do that at the right time for you.

“But it is incorrect, actually, to say that governors are not interested or are not cooperating. What the governors keep saying is that there is a committee established by the federal government to work on the minimum wage.

“We are waiting for the outcome of that committee, and that committee is not just looking at the federal government; it is looking at the state government and organised private sector.

“So by the time they provide, we don’t want to jump the gun, and that’s why we continue to do that.

“You may find one or two states make certain statements, which is perfectly okay in line. Minimum is minimum; when they say minimum wage, it does not mean that somebody cannot be higher than that; it is dependent on your own cash flow and on your own position. So, I think that is the position.”