Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, yesterday, stated that governors are yet to make any concrete decision on the issue of minimum wage.
Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal
Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, on Monday, November 30, said state governors were yet to take any collective decision on the controversial minimum wage issue, for which Nigerian workers are getting agitated over.
According to the Sokoto State governor, the issue at stake was complex, saying it was a constitutional matter which certainly required the input of the National Assembly.
“The issue of minimum wage is a constitutional matter which no state government can decide on its implementation or otherwise. And so far, the Nigeria Governors Forum has not taken any collective decision on the issue of minimum wage,” Tambuwal disclosed.
According to his spokesperson, Imam Imam, Tambuwal made the disclosure when he granted audience to the national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba.
While insisting that, NGF is not against the welfare and interest of their respective states workforce, Tambuwal noted that, workers in any state are viable partners in progress in the business of nation building.
“States have only minimal say on the issue of minimum wage because it is a constitutional matter. Any change desired for the present minimum wage will have to come through a constitutional amendment to be performed by the National Assembly.
“We must correct the impression that Governors are against workers. That is not the case. We are partners in progress and our roles are complimentary of each other.
“In Sokoto specifically, we are evolving various policies to better the lots of our workers and improve on their productivity. They are important allies and we hold them in high esteem,” Tambuwal stated.