The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, on Wednesday, revealed that Nigeria governors are not opposing the new minimum wage for workers.
Sule revealed this while speaking with State House Correspondents after a meeting with Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
The Governor noted that he is expressing his personal opinion, adding that he is unaware of any state where the government was unable to pay the old minimum wage rate.
He stated that Nasarawa has been paying the N30,000 minimum wage since 2019 and has also implemented promotions, gratuities, and other benefits for workers.
He highlighted the importance of the welfare of workers and expressed support for the ongoing committee established by the federal government to review workers’ pay, adding that governors are awaiting the committee’s outcome before making decisions on the minimum wage issue.
Sule said, “We’re concerned about the welfare of the workers. In fact, we’re paying some special allowances called hazard allowance, even to our medical workers, as I’m talking to you right now. So I don’t think governors have any problem with the payment of minimum wage. I don’t speak for the governors. Our chairman, the Governor of Kwara, actually speaks for the governors and he will do that at the right time to you. But it is incorrect, actually, to say that governors are not interested or are not cooperating. What the governors keep saying is that there is a committee established by the Federal Government to work on the minimum wage.
“We are waiting for the outcome of that committee and that committee is not just looking at the Federal Government, it’s looking at the state governments and organised private sector. We don’t want to jump the gun. You may find one or two states make certain statements, which is okay perfectly in line. Minimum is minimum. When they say minimum wage, it doesn’t mean that somebody cannot be higher than that, depending on your own cashflow and on your own position. So, I think that’s the position.”
He cited the successful establishment of a lithium factory by foreign investors as evidence of the state’s security and conducive business environment.
Sule said, “We have constructed a major road in the area and the Federal Government also constructed the major road that comes all the way from Benue into Nasarawa State, which most of the transporters from the eastern part of the country are actually using at the moment.
“We also established what you call a military super-camp in the area. So, there is a military presence in the area. All those kidnappers, bandits and others have all left, we don’t have any as far as that area is concerned. Nasarawa State is always considered as one of the safest states to do agriculture and other things.”
Sule also pointed out Nasarawa’s achievements in agriculture, ranking highly in Sesame farming, yam, cassava and rice production.
“Now, coming back to the agriculture that you have mentioned, since the past two to three years, Nasarawa State has been leading in so many areas of agriculture. Today, I’m happy to tell you that we are number one in sesame farming in the whole federation. Nobody does more than that. We’re number two in yam production throughout the country. We are number two in cassava throughout the country and we are number five in rice production.
“So, if people are not going to farms, we’ll not be achieving these kinds of numbers. These are the realities on ground, these are things that you can go and find out on your own. So, as far as we are concerned, we’re not saying that there are no kidnappings in Nasarawa. From time to time, you’ll find it here and there, but in Nasarawa State there is also oil drilling going on. With the oil drilling, I don’t think any of you has ever heard anything about kidnapping and things like that taking place.”
In the meeting with Shettima, Sule said he discussed the upcoming commissioning of the lithium factory in the state, expressing optimism that President Bola Tinubu will be present at the event.
