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We Are Concerned About Workers’ Welfare – Gov Sule Speaks On New Minimum Wage
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has refuted claims that state governors are uncooperative with the federal government regarding the new minimum wage for workers. He clarified that governors are not against the implementation of the new minimum wage.
There have been concerns raised in certain circles regarding the ability of many states to agree to and afford the proposed new minimum wage set by the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage.
These concerns escalated recently when reports surfaced that some governors were unsettled by the decision of Edo state governor Godwin Obaseki to raise the minimum wage in his state to ₦70,000.
However, Governor Sule, in a press briefing at the State House on Wednesday, after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima in his office, explained that his previous comments on the matter were his personal opinion. He also addressed the security situation in Nasarawa state.
The governor, who stated that he was unaware of any state where the government was unable to pay the previous minimum wage rate, emphasized that Nasarawa has been paying the N30,000 minimum wage since 2019 and has also implemented promotions, gratuities, and other benefits for workers.
While he clarified that governors are in agreement regarding plans to review workers’ pay, he mentioned that a committee established by the federal government is currently working on the minimum wage issue, and governors are awaiting the outcome.
Sule said: “We’re concerned about the welfare of the workers. In fact, we’re paying some special allowances called hazard allowance, even to our medical workers, as I’m talking to you right now. So I don’t think governors have any problem with the payment of minimum wage. I don’t speak for the governors. Our chairman, the Governor of Kwara, actually speaks for the governors and he will do that at the right time to you.
“But it is incorrect, actually, to say that governors are not interested or are not cooperating. What the governors keep saying is that there is a committee established by the federal government to work on the minimum wage.
“We are waiting for the outcome of that committee and that committee is not just looking at the federal government, it’s looking at the state government and organized private sector. So by the time they provide, we don’t want to jump the gun and that’s why we continue to do that.
“You may find one or two states make certain statements, which is okay and perfectly in line. Minimum is minimum, when they say minimum wage, it doesn’t mean that somebody cannot be higher than that, dependent on your own cash flow and dependent on your own position. So, I think that’s the position.”
Speaking on the security of the state, Governor Sule assured that the state is safe for investment and agriculture, contrary to concerns about security, citing the example of a lithium factory built by foreign investors, which took several years to complete and is now operational.
Governor Sule confidently proclaimed that Nasarawa is the most secure state in the nation for agricultural endeavours and various other activities.
He credited this accomplishment to the enhanced security measures implemented in the region, primarily due to the development of crucial roadways and the establishment of a military super-camp.
To substantiate his assertion, Governor Sule emphasized the remarkable achievements of the state in the field of agriculture. Nasarawa proudly holds the top position in sesame farming, secures the second spot in yam and cassava production, and ranks fifth in rice production across the country.
In order to dispel any doubts, he urged sceptics to personally verify these impressive facts.
He added “But now coming back to the issue of security that you have mentioned, it took us a while to be able to stabilize the area. First and foremost, they had a very bad road leading to the areas where some of the bandits, kidnappers, and so on were settling down.
“We now constructed a major road in the area and the federal government also constructed the major road that comes all the way from Benue into Nasarawa state, which most of the transporters from the eastern part of the country are actually using at the moment.
“We also established what you call military super-camp in the area so there is presence of the military in the area. So all those kidnappers, bandits, and others have all left, we don’t have any as far as that area is concerned.
“Nasarawa State is always considered as one of the safest states to do agriculture and other things. Now, coming back to the agriculture that you have mentioned, for the past two to three years, Nasarawa State has been leading in so many areas of agriculture.
“Today, I’m happy to tell you that we are number one in sesame farming in the whole federation, nobody does more than that. We’re number two a yam production throughout the country. We are number two in cassava throughout the country and we are number five in rice production.
“So if people are not going to farms, we’ll not be achieving these kinds of numbers. These are the realities on the ground, these are things that you can go and find out on your own. So as far as we are concerned, we’re not saying that there are no kidnappings in Nasarawa, from time to time you’ll find it here and there, but in Nasarawa State, there is also oil drilling going on, with the oil drilling. I don’t think any of you has ever heard anything about kidnapping and things like that taking place.”
Sule revealed that he visited the Vice President on Friday to discuss the imminent commissioning of a lithium factory in the state. He expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would attend the event.
“I came to see him for two major issues: we’ve been doing a lot in the area of agriculture, which he has taken upon himself to ensure that things are going well, so he’s been monitoring that on his own. So, from time to time, we visit and discuss the areas of agriculture, which are of great importance to him.
“I came also to discuss the commissioning of the lithium factory that we’re having on Friday. As you know this Friday we’re going to commission a 4000 metric tons per day lithium processing factory, which he has always been interested in knowing the outcome of what is happening.
“So we came to discuss that and part of the preparations. In fact, we’re hoping Mr President himself will be coming to commission that factory”, he said.
