N70,000 Minimum Wage: Osun among seven states yet to implement
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
No fewer than seven states, including Osun State as well as Federal Capital Territory are yet to reach an agreement on the new N70,000 minimum wage, initially expected to commence in October 2024.
With the finding by our correspondent, so far, 25 states have either begun paying or confirmed their total commitment to this wage increase.
Currently, there is no official agreement yet as negotiation still in progress among the states lagging behind.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State previously assured residents of his administration readiness in adopting the new minimum wage.
However, according to the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in Osun, Comrade Bimbo Fasasi said, “negotiations are still in progress saying that the state’s Labour/Osun State Government negotiation committee is working assiduously on the conclusion stages of the implementation”.
Workers all over the country have expressed dissatisfaction with the N70,000 amount, pointing out that inflation, fuel price hikes, and the rising cost of living have drastically reduced its value.
A civil servant in Osun State highlighted that the minimum wage barely covers basic expenses, leaving families struggling. Concerns have also been raised fuel prices, which many workers believe was used as leverage during wage negotiations.
President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero criticized the Federal Government recently, claiming that President Tinubu promised to maintain fuel prices in exchange for the minimum wage agreement was not honoured.
This breach has reportedly worsened the financial strain on Nigerian workers, and the NLC has called for urgent measures to address the increasing costs impacting citizens.
One of the pensioners in Osun who spoke under the condition of anonymity said, the situation is getting worse for them daily as they have been expecting Governor Adeleke to implement the new wage which is affecting them.
“Agreed that Governor Adeleke gave us another palliative of N10,000 per month for two months and we have collected the two months which is September and October 2024, but both the workers and pensioners have been expecting Mr Governor to implement the new wage for it to commence in November, but nothing to that effect as the month of November is running to an end now.
“Recently and not up to a week, Governor Makinde who is the same Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Governor in Oyo State approved N80,000 for his workers, what is happening to us in Osun?”.