The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has said the agreement between the federal government and organised labour on consequential adjustments on the new minimum wage is not binding on state governments.
The NGF chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, said this on Monday while briefing reporters at the end of a meeting of the 36 state governors at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, in Abuja.
The federal government and labour on October 18 announced an agreement on the implementation of the new wage, an agreement over consequential adjustments which averted a strike that labour had threatened to call should government further delay the take-off of the new minimum wage.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting on Wednesday presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo approved the agreement and set dates for the take-off of the new wage and payment of the arrears.
FEC directed that the payment of the new salary structure should take effect from April 18 and the arrears cleared by December 31.
However, Governor of Ekiti state and chairman of NGF, Mr Fayemi said the agreement and directive apply only to federal workers.
“I am sure you know the FEC does not determine what happens in the states, the states have their own states executive councils and that is the highest decision-making body at the state level.
“The forum (NGF) as the representative body of the states followed what happened in the negotiations that transpired. As far as we are concerned, the best that the forum can do is stick to what has been agreed with states.”
Mr Fayemi said while the state governments have accepted the N30,000 baseline, each will negotiate with its workers on the implementation and the consequential adjustments.
