Why some Governors refused to accept the ₦62,000 minimum wage – Budget Minister

Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, has spoken on the proposed minimum wage of ₦62,000 for Nigerian workers by the Tinubu-led administration.

According to Atiku Bagudu, the governors’ reluctance to accept this figure comes from the lean financial resources available to the states and local governments.

Bagudu said in his address that while viewed as a vital step towards raising workers’ living conditions, several states only grudgingly adopted the ₦62,000 pay proposal because of their present restricted cash inputs.

“The fiscal realities that states and local governments face make it challenging to commit to such an increase in the minimum wage,” he stated.

He said: “The constitution has made provision to guide the President to send legislation to the National Assembly periodically on issues of minimum wage for the best outcome.

“The Tinubu administration wants all Nigerians to be skilled as its first priority under a skill based economy where the people, including workers, can earn millions of naira

“The President intends to make Nigerians more prosperous with cheap housing, cheap food, cheap transport and availability of structures for national growth and development.

“President Tinubu and Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State are doing the very best to improve the living condition of the people in all sectors of life, I commend and congratulate them on the occasion of the Eid-el Kabir.”