By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Federal Government yesterday pleaded with states that have not started implementing the N70,000 new national minimum wage to start payment immediately.
The plea was made by Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Akume said that the Federal Government was committed to fully implementing the newly approved minimum wage.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the presidential Villa in Abuja, Senator Akume said that the federal government was determined to ensure that workers received a fair wage and described the implementation as complete and uncompromising.
He commented on the administration’s commitment to implementing the new minimum wage, “Quite frankly, the federal government is committed to this fully. There’s no half-measure about this at all. It’s full.”
The SGF said President Bola Tinubu prioritised the new minimum wage issue early in his administration, establishing a tripartite committee to examine all aspects of wage adjustment.
This committee included representatives from the federal government, state governors, and the organised private sector, resulting in a consensus on a new wage standard.
He noted that some state governments have already started implementing the wage increase, and a few states have even exceeded the N70,000 threshold.
Akume commended the states that have initiated payments, expressing hope that those who have yet to start will soon begin honouring the new wage commitment.
He further encouraged these states to fulfill their obligations, underscoring timely compliance’s importance promptly.
“The issue of the new minimum wage has always been central to the thinking of the government of President Bola Tinubu, and that was why he quickly put in place a tripartite arrangement to look at all the issues, which was adequately carried out.
“The governors were represented, the federal government was represented, and the organised private sector was also part of it. So, we arrived at the new minimum wage.
“We are delighted with it, and some state governments have started implementing it. Others have even gone beyond N70,000. So I believe that there’s no problem with that whatsoever.
“We applaud those who have started. Those who have not started, we just want to appeal to them to start the payment”, he said.
The SGF’s remarks came shortly after he met with President Tinubu, marking his first official engagement with the President following the recent cabinet reshuffle.
While addressing questions about the meeting’s purpose, Akume indicated it was a routine discussion of matters of state.
