The Bayelsa State Government, in conjunction with the eight local government chairmen, acceded to the demand of organized labour indicating its readiness to pay the new eighty thousand (N80,000) Minimum Wage to workers in the unified local government service.
The state government also assured that it would add to the December salaries of its workers the differentials that will arise from the ongoing discussions on the template that was used in paying the new wage last month.
The Acting Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this known at a meeting with the State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee, the eight local government chairmen, and the organized labour leaders representing the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC); the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE); the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT); the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), amongst others.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo urged labour to come up with their own computation following the consequential adjustment principle and harmonize same with the state team before next week for government to pay the differentials alongside the December 2024 salaries.
He said the decision to pay the new minimum wage to council workers was unanimously agreed by all critical stakeholders including the local government chairmen.
On the issue of the federal government circular for increment of pensioners’ remuneration, the Acting Governor promised that government would look at it even as it had already approved a N10,000 increase for pensioners across board.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, however, made it clear that the state government cannot adopt the payment template of the federal government in implementing the new wage to workers as both do not have the same financial capacity.
While assuring workers of governments commitment to their welfare, he said Bayelsa was already paying a more competitive wage than most states in in the South South in particular and the country at large
“First, we have agreed that the Minimum Wage for the local governments should also be N80,000.
“Now the difference is the consequential adjustment which we think that we cannot use the Federal Government’s consequential adjustment because the Federal Government’s rates are higher.
“Secondly, the Federal Government has ways and means, but both state and local governments do not have such powers where they can tell the Central Bank to print money for them. S
‘So, as we go for the consequential adjustment,we will look at what we can carry, and I need all of us to put the survival of Bayelsa State and our councils at the back of our minds as we negotiate.
‘”We should not fail to understand that the resources that come to the state or local government are not meant for those of us who are politicians and civil servants. The truth is that we constitute only about 15 percent that earns income as salaries.
“While majority of our people earn social services such as health facilities, education, security, roads, bridges and other amenities that are also being provided from that same resources.
So, I really want to appeal to labour to show understanding.”
Speaking on behalf of organized labour, the State NLC Chairman, Comrade Simon Barnabas, thanked government for approving the New Minimum Wage for workers in the state.
The state NLC boss, however, called on government to adopt the Federal Government template for the consequential adjustment as well as approve N32,000 increment for pensioners as contained in the recent federal circular.
The Secretary to State Government, Professor Nimibofa Ayawei; the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon.Irorodamie Komonibo; the Deputy Chief of State, Deputy Governor’s Office, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei; the Head of Service, Mrs Biobelemoye Charles-Oyeama, including the Technical Adviser to the Governor Treasury, Accounts and Revenue, Mr. Timipre Seipulou, were part of the meeting.
