The Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Adewale Oyerinde, has stated that none of Nigeria’s 36 states has a valid excuse for failing to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage.
Oyerinde argued that state governments have received sufficient financial support from the Federal Government to accommodate the wage increase, which was signed into law in July 2024. The legislation raised workers’ wages from N30,000 to N70,000, marking a significant boost in earnings for Nigerian employees.
Following President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the bill, some state governments pledged to implement the new minimum wage, while others expressed concerns about their ability to meet the financial obligations.
Speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Oyerinde dismissed claims that certain states may lack the funds to comply with the new wage policy, emphasising that the N70,000 minimum wage is now mandatory.
“We have moved away from the context of hope; the reality now is what we should face. The reality for all stakeholders, whether at the federal, state, or local government, is that N70,000 has come to stay and everybody should align with the law except those that are exempted,” he said.
Oyerinde highlighted that the Federal Government has been providing consistent financial support to state governments and has increased their allocations.
“The issue of having funds to pay the N70,000 also does not arise because it is no longer hidden that the Federal Government has been consistently supporting the state governments,” he said.
“The allocations to state governments have increased proportionately. So, with a little fiscal discipline, no state should complain that they can’t pay N70,000 as approved by the president.”
He also urged state governors to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and prioritise the payment of the new minimum wage.
Oyerinde further stated that should any state fail to implement the policy, labour unions such as the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress must reassess their approach to ensure compliance.
“If state governors refuse to pay the new minimum wage, the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress would have to change their strategy for engagement to get them to pay,” he added.
The new minimum wage policy, seen as a significant milestone for Nigerian workers, has now set the stage for potential conflicts between state governments and labour unions if implementation falters.
