Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, stated that governors seek fiscal federalism to enable individual states to afford living minimum wage payments. He emphasised that Nigerian governors are not opposed to approving a living wage for workers.
Labour and Government at Odds
The Federal Government faces pressure from organised labour over delays in implementing the new minimum wage. While a government-appointed tripartite committee recommended N62,000, governors insisted that most states could only afford N57,000. In contrast, organised labour demanded a benchmark of N250,000, showing significant disparity in expectations.
President’s Efforts and Labour’s Response
President Bola Tinubu has opted for dialogue with the NGF and employers, but organised labour accused the governors of being insensitive to workers’ needs. Oyebanji, addressing the Seventh Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria in Ado Ekiti, assured that no state intends to downsize its workforce. Instead, states aim to determine affordable wages to avoid retrenchment.
Call for Cooperative Efforts in Agriculture
Governor Oyebanji urged civil servants to form cooperative societies to participate in the state’s agricultural revolution. He highlighted government support, including free land clearing and provision of inputs. “We have cleared over 2,000 hectares across Ekiti State,” he noted, encouraging civil servants to take advantage of these opportunities.
Civil Servants’ Role in Development
Oyebanji praised civil servants for their pivotal role in Ekiti State’s development and the success of his administration’s six pillars. He emphasised their efficiency and effectiveness as crucial to the state’s progress and expressed his commitment to learning from their experiences.
Governor’s Commitment to Learning and Collaboration
“I am here to associate and learn from you,” Oyebanji told the delegates, acknowledging the wealth of talent within the civil service. He stressed the importance of such conferences in fostering the exchange of ideas and experiences, benefiting both senior civil servants and the broader government administration.
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