The House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity has announced plans to investigate the delayed implementation of the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage by state governments.
The committee, chaired by Adegboyega Adefarati, expressed its commitment to addressing the issue promptly once the National Assembly resumes from its annual recess on September 17.
Adefarati assured that the committee would prioritize the matter, urging state governors to comply with the provisions of the new minimum wage Act. “We’ll look into it immediately we resume from recess. We can just appeal to the governors to comply with the Act,” Adefarati stated.
The Federal Government and organized labour had reached an agreement on July 19 to increase the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, following extensive negotiations. President Bola Tinubu signed the new minimum wage bill into law on July 29, with provisions for the payment to be backdated to May 2024. The new wage was intended to provide relief for workers amid rising inflation and economic challenges in the country.
Despite the legislation, over a month after the President’s assent, many state governments have yet to begin the payment of the new wage. Some states, including Gombe, have openly declared financial difficulties in meeting the new minimum wage requirements, citing strained state budgets and limited resources. In contrast, other states have formed committees and panels to explore feasible modalities for implementing the N70,000 minimum wage.
Labour unions and workers have expressed frustration over the slow pace of implementation, highlighting the urgent need for compliance to alleviate the financial burdens faced by many Nigerian workers. The delay has sparked concerns about the willingness of state governments to adhere to the new wage standards, and the impending investigation by the House Committee is seen as a critical step in ensuring accountability.
The House Committee’s intervention aims to address the discrepancies between state compliance and the Federal Government’s directive, potentially leading to increased pressure on state governments to align with the national policy. As the committee prepares to resume, stakeholders across the labour sector are hopeful that the investigation will expedite the rollout of the new minimum wage across all states, ensuring that Nigerian workers receive the promised pay adjustments without further delay.