Details of Wednesday’s meeting that extended into the early hours of Thursday between the 36 State Governors in the country have been revealed.
The details were shared in a communiqué signed by Ahmed Salihu, Acting Director, Media, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and released after the emergency meeting.
The governors have assured Nigerians and organized labour that negotiations for a new national minimum wage are ongoing, and a better wage will result from the process.
This comes after the Federal Executive Council postponed the minimum wage discussion on Tuesday to allow President Bola Tinubu to conduct broader consultations.
The governors had previously rejected the Federal Government’s proposal of N62,000, stating that some states would need to borrow money to pay salaries. However, the organized labour insisted on a wage of N250,000.
The communiqué read, “The Forum received a presentation from the Minister of Women Affairs on the World Bank-Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up, along with other activities of the ministry. Members noted the importance of the project and emphasized the need to implement it at the state level as initially conceived, as the states are the primary obligors of the project.”
The governors acknowledged the work and contributions of the Ministry of Women Affairs in promoting gender equality, empowering women, and advancing social development across Nigeria.
Regarding the new National Minimum Wage, the governors agreed to continue engaging with key stakeholders to reach a mutually agreeable solution. “We remain dedicated to the process and assure that better wages will result from the ongoing negotiations,” the communiqué added.
The 36 state governors also highlighted the significance of the World Bank-Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up and stressed the necessity of implementing it at the state level as originally intended, given that the states are the primary entities responsible for the project.
The meeting also featured discussions with the Acting Country Director of the World Bank, Mr Taimur Samad, and his team on various programs being implemented in the states, including the HOPE Series of Projects, Nigeria Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equality, Food and Nutrition Security, and others.
Members expressed willingness to continue providing support to ensure program effectiveness across the country. The governors also received a briefing from Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, and pledged their support for the Committee to ensure the successful implementation of these reforms.
