Minimum Wage: Governors Agree To Pay But Workers insist On Strike

SAN FRANCISCO, July 17, (THEWILL) – Nigerian state governors have agreed to pay workers the N18, 000 (about $116) minimum monthly salary, according to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, who is also Governor of Rivers State.

Amaechi told journalists after the weekend meeting that the forum resolved to comply with the provisions of the Minimum Wage Act and further agreed that individual states should commence implementation modalities and negotiate with the respective labour unions in their various states.

“There is no way we can on our own develop our states without the cooperation of workers. In fact, we see them as partners and that is why we are appealing to them to shelve their proposed strike. There is no need for it again because we have all agreed to pay them the minimum wage, which we also consider to be law and as law enforcers in our different states, we won’t go against the law,” Amaechi said.

But in spite of the new position adopted by all governors, the workers’ union have insisted on embarking on a 3-day nationwide warning strike from Wednesday, July 20, 2011.

Recall that some governors had vowed not to pay the new wage arguing that they lack the financial muscle to handle the burden thus forcing labour unions to call out workers for a strike.

A meeting has however been scheduled in Abuja tomorrow (Monday) between Labour Minister Emeka Wogu and Labour leaders in order to stop the strike.