A dissenting voice from the governors’ rank came Sunday from Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris, who said contrary to the impression being created by his colleagues, state governments could indeed pay the N18,000 minimum wage.
However, the strike embarked upon by the workers in Ondo State under the aegis of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the new wage entered the third week Sunday.
Idris said his administration was putting machinery in motion to pay the new wage to its workers in agreement with the decision of state governors at their recent meeting on the matter.
The governor, who disclosed this in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, at the wedding ceremony of his son, Abdulrasheed, also told journalists that the decision to pay the new wage was taken in Abuja when the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) met recently to review the matter.
“All the 36 state governors have agreed in their meeting to pay the N18,000 minimum wage.
“I believe all state governments will pay the N18,000 minimum wage. In fact, in Kogi State, we have concluded deliberations on it since last month to pay our workers.”
Idris also said he was against any amnesty for members of Boko Haram until they embrace dialogue with the Federal Government.
The National Minimum Wage Act, signed by President Goodluck Jonathan on March 22 has generated a lot of controversy and heated debates between government and the organised labour.
Last week, a planned three-day warning strike was at the last minute put off by labour after horse-trading with the government on the matter.
