Governors Urge  Minimum Wage C’ttee to Consider States’ Ability to Pay

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The governors of the 36 states have called on the  National Minimum Wage Committee (NMWC) to consider states’ ability to pay as well as peculiarities, before reaching a decision on the next minimum wage.
Also, the governors highlighted the need for state policing as a critical amendment in the ongoing 1999 constitutional Amendment proceedings to correct a fundamental flaw in the national security architecture.

The governors said this in a communique after their meeting, signed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq who is also the  Governor of Kwara State.

“Members reviewed the progress of the NMWC and ongoing multi- stakeholder engagements towards agreeing on a fair minimum wage.
“Members urged the NMWC to consider the current realities, individual state peculiarities and consequential impact on the capacity of the government as well as private sector employers to pay. Members also emphasised the need for proposals to be data- driven and evidence-based,” the communiqué stated.
It said that members discussed the growing concern raised by the United States Embassy over illegal and fraudulent inter-country adoption of Nigerian children by US citizens including systemic fraud and corruption, child-buying, the imprisonment of pregnant women, and unreliable or non-existent documentation.

“Members pledged to engage the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in a bid to address the situation, “ the governors said .
The communique said that the governors  discussed the progress made by states in implementing various business enabling reforms, including those aimed at improving land administration, Public Private Partnership (PPP), investment promotion frameworks, business-enabling infrastructure and regulatory environment under the World Bank supported State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme for result.

The communique said that the governors  were implored to leverage available support within the programme in implementing related reforms to stimulate further economic growth.

Also, the governors, the communique said,  received an update from the NGF Senior Health Advisor, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab on the Health Sector Renewal Compact, the next round of the Primary Health Care (PHC) leadership challenge and the UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund.
 The communique said that the governors  restated their commitment to deliver on requisite actions and reforms to achieve the objectives of the various initiatives.

According to the communique, the governors commiserated with the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, over the communal clash between Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, which led to the death of 16 military personnel.