The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the resignation of Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, if he is unable to comply with the newly established minimum wage of N70,000. This statement follows the governor’s recent admission that his administration cannot afford to meet the new wage requirements.
Governor Yahaya, who also holds the position of Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, made these comments during a meeting with labor leaders, civil society groups, and traders at the Government House in Gombe. His remarks have sparked a strong reaction from the NLC, which is insisting that governors who cannot meet the wage standard should step down.
Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Public Relations, has been vocal about the issue. “He should quit if he cannot pay. He took an oath of office to uphold the law and not to break it,” Upah stated.
In response to inquiries, the Trade Union Congress has not yet issued an official statement regarding Governor Yahaya’s stance.
This situation arises shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the new Minimum Wage Act into law, raising the minimum wage to N70,000. The decision followed extensive negotiations between the President and labor unions, who had originally demanded over N250,000 per month. The discussions, which started in early February, ended in July with a consensus on the N70,000 amount.
On July 15, the Federal Executive Council directed the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning to draft an amendment bill for the 2024 Budget. A week later, President Tinubu requested the Senate to amend both the 2024 Appropriation Act and the 2023 Finance Act, proposing a N6.2 trillion increase in the budget.
The President’s request was addressed to the Senate President and presented during a plenary session. This action was in line with Section 58 (2) of the Constitution. The Federal Government has assured the public that all necessary stakeholders were involved in the negotiations to ensure compliance with the new wage law.
