Minimum Wage: Labour, Soludo Set To Clash

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The  Anambra State workforce has insisted on the use of the Federal Government consequential adjustment template for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage in the state .

This is even as the leaders of the Organized Labour in the State expressed disappointment over the State Government’s proposed template for the payment.

At an interactive session with the Media on Friday November 1,2024 in Awka ,the state capital, Nicholas Aromeh, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees NULGE, Anambra State Chapter, called on the State Governor Prof Charles Soludo, to seriously consider using the template already set by the Federal Government in computing the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage.

According to the NULGE boss, the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress leaderships in the state are all in agreement with the resolution.

” We are collectively, appealing to Governor Soludo, in the interest of workers to use the chart released by the Federal Government in computing the  N70,000 Minimum wage.

Yes, there is an issue with the new minimum wage on ground and the labour leaders, including NLC ,TUC and NULGE ,have been meeting with the Governor. on the matter.

“In Anambra, unfortunately the Governor is not getting it right because from what we have seen from him ,and his team ,we are not happy ,especially in the areas that affect salaries.

“Grade levels eight to 17, Government’s proposal is nothing to write home about” Aromeh noted.

The Source reports that Governor Soludo had, last week, announced that the State has agreed to pay N70,000 as the new minimum wage.

However, he was silent on the contentious, template to be applied in computing the consequential adjustment ,particularly for  senior staff.

The State Government, according to the NULGE chairman, has cited the internally generated revenue profile of the state as what is guiding its decision over the consequential adjustment.

“Available reports have shown that Anambra state is far better than several states that have adopted the Federal Government’s template for the new minimum wage.

” The Federal Government’s chart must be used ,and not for the state to adopt a discriminatory package for workers on different grade levels.

“If what the State is bringing to the table is allowed, it means that as you progress, your take home pay will continue to go down”, Aromeh stated

Further speaking ,the NULGE leader informed that should the organized labour go with the Governor’s template, a grade one step one worker, will be earning the same salary or a little above N70,000.

“But if our Governor does not adopt the Federal Government’s template, we have other options than giving him an ultimatum or going to court because we do not want to bring problems to the State”,  he said.