Nigerian workers have asked the state governors to slash their salaries and allowances and those of their appointees to enable them to pay the new minimum wage of N62,000 proposed by the federal government.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) stated on Friday that state governments could not afford to pay N60,000 as the new minimum wage and that some states would end up borrowing to pay workers.
However, reacting to the governors’ stance, many civil servants in separate interviews with the Daily Trust asked them to reduce the cost of governance or they would sue them should they refuse to implement the new minimum wage when approved by the federal government.
A teacher in Kwara State, known only as ‘Madam Dame’ said, “Under the current circumstances, no worker can make ends meet. Before the fuel subsidy was lifted, Kwara State’s monthly revenue was considerably lower than the current figure of over N9 billion, alongside increased internally generated revenue. Governors ought to be able to comfortably meet the minimum wage.”
An employee of the state’s revenue service commented, “A mere N60,000; the states should manage to pay. This is sheer cruelty amidst economic hardship. If the other parties refuse, labor should persist with the strike. I spend N30,000 monthly on transportation alone; it’s nonsensical.
“Nigerian governors possess the means to meet this demand. If they claim otherwise, they should reverse the fuel price. They should show compassion for Nigerian workers.”
A civil servant in Enugu State, Mrs. Nwaka Ogbonne, said state governments should join the federal government and pay the proposed N60,000 minimum wage.
“These days, we even hear that they (the governors) receive, times three, what their predecessors were receiving as monthly allocations. So, why shouldn’t they pay the proposed N60,000 minimum wage? They don’t have any genuine reason not to pay, except that a lot of them have decided to be anti-people in their policies,” she said.
A civil servant in Kaduna said: “We are not happy to hear from the governors that N60,000 as the minimum wage is not sustainable for them, especially considering the increase in federal allocations,” he said.
Abdul reminded the governors that “the next elections are approaching, and workers are aware of what actions to take to effect change in government.
Usmanu, a worker in the Kaduna State judiciary, accused state governors of insincerity, asking, “Why can’t they reduce the number of their appointees to save more money to pay the workers who do most of the work?”
A worker with the Bayelsa Students Loans Board asked, “Why are our leaders this wicked? They should put their legs in our shoes and see how it’s difficult to cope with the economic situation in Nigeria. The way governors are going, there may be a crisis in this country.
“Look at these governors; check the amounts they voted as security votes alone, not to talk about their feeding. Nigeria is really a very funny country.”
A cleaner in one of the state’s ministries said: “I have put in several years in the state service, and people are debating N60,000 as my pay at the end of the month amidst the high cost of things. Is that not wickedness?
“Time is coming when no one will be willing to work in the civil service because, at the end of 35 years or when you reach 60 years, there will be nothing to show that you worked in your life. Our problem is the governors; at least those working in the federal civil service are a bit better.”
A level 12 worker in Plateau State, Margaret Kumbul, said, “Since I joined the civil service about 18 years ago, the minimum wage has never helped me. It has rather impoverished us. Any time we have a new minimum wage, there will be higher inflation.
“What we need now is that the government should reduce the cost of living. With the current hyper-inflation, even the minimum wage of N200,000 will not solve our problem.”
One of the workers in Bauchi State said: “The monthly federal allocation coming to Bauchi State has increased since the removal of fuel subsidies almost a year ago, but nobody is questioning where the huge money is going.
“The governor is busy buying exotic and expensive vehicles for himself, lawmakers, and commissioners, while thousands of workers cannot afford three square meals for their families due to the high cost of living.”
A civil servant in Delta State asked state governors to reduce their own salaries and allowances, as well as those of former governors.
A worker in Adamawa, Dr. Auwal Magaji Abubakar, described the position of the governors as insensitive, given the rising cost of commodities in the market.
“A bag of rice is about N75,000 and a bag of maize is around N80,000, and a governor is saying he cannot pay N60,000. So, what will he pay? Will N60,000 buy fuel for his car that will last him a week?”
A director in Kogi State said that unless the federal government releases funds separately for salary payments in respect of the new move, the hope of its implementation seems bleak in many states.
A level 8 officer in the state said: “It is by providence that we, the civil servants, are surviving in the state. For years, some workers have been on percentage salaries; promotions are without cash backing, and there is an abolition of yearly incremental salary payments, including outright stoppage of payment of other allowances, like leave bonuses, and monthly imprest.”
