Victoria Mbangwa
The Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale Oyerinde, has called on state governments to demonstrate fiscal discipline and prioritize the payment of the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage.
Speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Oyerinde emphasized that the minimum wage, signed into law in July 2024, is non-negotiable and must be implemented nationwide.
The new wage law, which raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, has drawn mixed reactions from state governments. While some governors have pledged commitment to its implementation, others have expressed concerns about the financial feasibility of meeting the increased wage bill.
He said, “The issue of having funds to pay the N70,000 also does not arise because it is no longer hidden that the Federal Government has been consistently supporting the state governments.”
“The allocations to state governments have increased proportionately. So, with a little fiscal discipline, no state should complain that they can’t pay N70,000 as approved by the president.
“We have moved away from the context of hope, the reality now is what we should face. The reality for all stakeholders whether at the federal, state or local government is that N70,000 has come to stay and everybody should align with the law except those that are exempted.”
