Following the rising cost of living in the country and its impact on the people, as well as the increase in Federal allocations to all tiers of government, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, has said state governments had no excuse not to pay civil servants above the N70,000 minimum wage.
Director General of NECA, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, who stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief yesterday, said the increased inflow of revenue from the Federation Account had reduced the argument of some states about their inability to pay.
Speaking in the interview, the NECA boss stated: “So, no state really has an excuse in the context of the current reality to stay at that? 70,000, especially with people struggling with the price of petrol. While many states are still making significant progress with CNG buses, we believe there is still more that can be done.
“A lot still needs to be done with the context of food security and shelter. Once you address that, the conversation would not really be about minimum wage because the amount of?70,000 will be sufficient to buy enough for an average household. So, it’s not about the quantum, it’s about what exactly the? 70,000 can buy.”
He said any measure aimed at reducing the pain of workers, as key drivers of the economy, would boost their productivity.