Hardship: Labour Kicks as 20 States Deny Workers Wage Award

Eight months after the Federal Government initiated the payment of a N35,000 wage award in addition to the N30,000 minimum wage to alleviate economic hardship, many state governments have yet to replicate the gesture. This wage award was introduced to cushion the economic burdens faced by workers pending the implementation of a new minimum wage. However, only a few states have complied, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among workers and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

States Not Paying Wage Awards

Despite President Bola Tinubu’s appeal for states to begin paying wage awards, 15 states have not complied, while seven states paid briefly before stopping. Among the non-compliant states are one in the South-East, four in the South-South, three in the North-East, two in the North-Central, and five in the North-West.

For instance, in Delta State, a committee has been set up to examine wage-related issues, but no payments have been made yet. Similarly, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states are waiting for an official declaration by the Federal Government on the wage increase. Akwa Ibom’s Governor Umo Eno assured that his administration would comply with the new minimum wage once it is established.

Partial Payments and Stoppages

Some states, including Delta, Niger, Plateau, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Nasarawa, initially paid the wage awards but stopped after one to four months. For example, Niger State paid N20,000 once as a palliative and formed a committee to determine a sustainable minimum wage. Katsina and Nasarawa states also provided temporary wage awards but have since ceased payments.

States Paying Wage Awards

Fifteen states are actively paying wage awards or salary increments ranging from N10,000 to N40,000. Notable examples include:

• Edo State: Introduced a new minimum wage of N70,000, effective May 2024.
• Bayelsa State: Approved wage awards of N20,000 for Grades 1–14, N30,000 for Grades 15–17, and N100,000 for Permanent Secretaries.
• Imo State: Added N10,000 to the existing minimum wage, bringing it to N40,000.
• Enugu State: Pays N25,000 to state civil servants and N10,000 to local government workers and primary school teachers.
• Ondo State: Pays N35,000 to workers and N10,000 to pensioners.
• Lagos State: Has been paying N35,000 wage awards since December 2023, alongside a three-day work week for civil servants at Levels 1-13.

Labour’s Reaction

The NLC criticized the states that have not implemented the wage award, describing their inaction as insensitive and detrimental to workers’ welfare. An NLC official, speaking anonymously, highlighted the increased revenue states receive from the Federal Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) due to the fuel price hike. The official condemned the governors’ prioritization of other projects over workers’ salaries, viewing it as a lack of investment in state productivity.

Conclusion

The ongoing refusal of many state governments to implement the wage awards has exacerbated the economic hardship faced by workers. While some states have taken positive steps, the inconsistency across the country underscores a significant challenge in addressing workers’ welfare uniformly. The NLC continues to advocate for fair treatment and the implementation of the agreed wage awards to ensure that workers can cope with the rising cost of living.