Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has faulted the payment of N30,000 minimum wage across the board.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s chieftain in Delta State, defended the state governors for non-compliance.
Onuesoke said that the Federal Government cannot dictate to states how much to pay their workers as minimum wage.
Mr Onuesoke said the Federal Government cannot force state governors to comply with the consequential adjustment.
Onuesoke said; ”Payment will be determined majorly by the Internally Generated Revenue of each state. And the number of civil servants on their payroll.
“There are some states that have not been able to pay the N18,000 minimum wage. ”Some states are owing their workers’ salaries for six months and above.
”How do you expect such states to cope with the recent increase of N30, 000? ”Double-digit salary increases of 29 per cent being demanded for higher-level officers is not realistic.
”Have they considered their demand to make sure the state government’s finances can pay for it?
“In advanced countries where budgeting and finances are much better organised and with stronger economies, salary increases are very modest.
”Salary increment is from 1 to 5 per cent yearly.
”The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, officials need to be realistic and consider affordability as there is no magic “money tree.
“Like what Governor Kayode Fayemi said, ”the best thing is for states governors to have a roundtable talk with NLC.
.” States that can pay the minimum wage should pay. ”Those who cannot pay should be able to tell their workers what they can afford. base on their economical strength.
”Forcing it on them will lead to future economic crisis as most state will end up owing workers’ salaries.
