As the deadline for the implementation of the new N70,000 minimum wage draws near, only nine states have taken concrete steps towards compliance.
Lagos, Edo, and Adamawa have either started paying or indicated willingness to pay the new wage, while seven others – Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Borno, Jigawa, Ondo, and Abia – have set up implementation committees.
However, 21 states are still dragging their feet, with no implementation panels in place. These states include Plateau, Kebbi, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Delta, Osun, Ekiti, Zamfara, Benue, Enugu, Taraba, Gombe, Kogi, Enugu, Adamawa, Niger, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Katsina, Kaduna, Cross River, and Yobe.
Ndubuaku, a union leader, has expressed optimism that the implementation process may be concluded by the end of August. He emphasized that the signing of the wage is just a small component of the main activity, which involves consequential adjustments and calculations.
Ndubuaku explained that the consequential adjustments involve calculating the minimum wage from level one, step one, all the way to level 16. He noted that this process may take some time and requires collaboration between the government and the union.
The union leader believes that the process should be completed before the end of the month, given that there are templates for compiling the necessary adjustments and a committee in place to carry out the task.
