A publication which appeared to have emanated from Nairaland claimed that Nigeria’s 36 State Governors have reached an agreement to pay various amounts ranging from ₦30,000 to ₦80,000 as Minimum Wage on Monday, June 10, 2024.
Earlier, another online news blog reported on Saturday, June 8 that the Nigeria Governors Forum had on Thursday, June 6, reportedly considered the option of ₦60,000 to ₦70,000 as benchmark for the minimum wage.
And as of evening of Monday, June 10, various whatsApp groups have seen the publication circulating and variously shared.
Screenshots of the post as seen on WhatsApp
But where did this list come from?
In a recent press release published on the X handle of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) posted on Friday, 7 June, 2024, the NGF noted that a new minimum wage was due for negotiation, but cautioned the Federal Government, the organised private sector and the organised labour to understand that sustainability of any amount agreed upon was important, as consequential adjustment would be applied any amount agreed upon. While not mentioning any figure as an agreeable minimum wage, the NGF stated that a ₦60,000 minimum wage would not fly.
On seeing the list, the reporter visited the website of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. The most recent post about the commitment of the NGF to the rollout of an implementable national minimum wage, after its meeting on May 1, 2024. It did not mention that the governors made any resolution about what to pay as minimum wage.
An email was sent to info@ngf.gov.ng, culled from the website of the Nigeria Governors Forum to clarify this. But no response was received.
Screenshot of email
However, the issue of the National Minimum Wage for Nigeria is still unresolved. On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, media reports said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has stepped down the minimum wage memo to allow President Bola Tinubu to engage in more consultation with stakeholders.
Other reports indicate that President Bola Tinubu said on Tuesday he would consult with the 36 state governors and members of the organised private sector before arriving at the figure that will be submitted to the National Assembly in the form of Executive Bill as the new national minimum wage.
This shows that no agreement has been reached at the moment.
With this report, it is clear that governors in Nigeria’s 36 states have not agreed on the payment of any specific amount as minimum wage.
