NLC Demands Resignation of Governors Unable to Implement ₦70,000 Minimum Wage

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the resignation of governors who are unable to implement the newly mandated ₦70,000 minimum wage.

This demand follows comments from Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, who stated that his administration cannot afford to meet the new national minimum wage standard.

“I cannot pay the ₦70,000 minimum wage, and I suspect many other states are in the same predicament,” Governor Yahaya said.

As the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Yahaya made these remarks during a meeting with labour leaders, civil society organizations, and traders’ associations at the Government House in Gombe.

In response to the governor’s comments, NLC’s Head of Public Relations, Benson Upah, stated, “He should quit if he cannot pay. He took an oath of office to uphold the law and not to break it.”

The Trade Union Congress has not yet issued an official statement regarding Governor Yahaya’s position.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu signed the new Minimum Wage Act into law, setting the minimum wage at ₦70,000 after nearly two weeks of negotiations with organized labour unions, who initially demanded a minimum wage of over ₦250,000 per month.