I’m ready to pay N70,000 minimum wage – Kebbi Gov

From Ismail Adebayo, Birnin Kebbi

Governor Nasiru Idris of Kebbi State has said his administration is ready to pay Kebbi workers the N70,000 minimum wage.

The governor disclosed this in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, when the leadership of the state council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) paid him a courtesy call at Government House.

He said some persons have been going about to say his administration would not pay the new minimum wage.

The governor promised the workers that he would immediately commence implementation of the new minimum wage as soon as the template to do so is delivered to the state government.

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“Even the federal government that approved the new wage is yet to commence payment. This will be so until modalities are finalised. When we are ready, the NLC and my government will dialogue to chart the best course of action for implementation,” he said.

He added that the annual development levy of N500 being implemented since the defunct Sokoto state, was the meagre amount his government deducted from workers’ salaries and its allowed by law.

“The deductions from the workers salaries only amounted to N11m,” he said.

Earlier, the state NLC Chairman. Comrade Murtala Usman, said the visit was to show their appreciation to the governor for being the “most labour friendly” in the country.