Opinion

Mal. Yahaya Abdulrahman Advises Nigerian Governors On Implemention Of New National Minimum Wage

The public affairs commentator took to his Facebook page to air his views on lingering debate surrounding full implementation of minimum wage. He dedicated his weekly "Friday Motivation" message for the said purpose, targeting Nigeria Governors. Find his words below 👇

"Friday Motivation

Today is Friday. As usual, I shall dish out a word or two to motivate the rest of the population, in a bid to improve individual and overall well-being. 

My focus today is on the implementation of new national minimum wage, which some Governors are crying over. First, the named Governors including Nigerian citizens must acknowledge that the new minimum wage (N70,000) has been signed into law by Mr President, following legislative procedures. 

By this, Civil Servants are entitled to receive at least N70,000 as take home pay in lieu of service to the nation. I understand that Federal Allocation has increased to States consequent upon the development. Why then are the Governors complaining ?. 

If their reason is that the sum received cannot cater for salaries and projects simultaneously, here are a few ways they can go about it.

1. Think out of the box. Ordinarily, no Governor should rely solely on Federal Allocation, as it tells how unprepared such a Governor is, to handle the enormous needs of the people he is governing, should he do so. Each State in the country has unique potential. It is either the State is blessed with vast arable land for farming or it is rich in mineral deposit. Others are placed on the advantaged side for commercial activities, have productive human population, among other openings waiting to be fully tapped. 

 

Each Governor should identify his area of strength in relation to the above and make it work to generate income, boosting IGR as a result. This way, they may not have reason(s) to complain of lacking resources to finance minimum wage. 

Nasarawa State Governor is doing just that. Since coming on board in 2019, he has been working consistently to tap into the rich mineral deposit available to the State. Today, Nasarawa State is an industrial hub, attracting investors from across the world, consequently boosting the State IGR. Nasarawa State has been placed on the global map for solid minerals production. 

Kano and Lagos are no different. Owing to their strategic locations, they attract business oriented individuals. These States have become commercial centers, and are making it big from commercial activities. 

2. Reduce cost of governance. Running cost of governance in Nigeria is capital intensive. It is widely believed to consume more resources than anything else. This is worrisome, in view of the endless needs of the people. Governors will do well to cut this lofty cost and channel resources saved from so doing to useful projects. This way, they may not have to complain about paying minimum wage. 

3. Fight insecurity to standstill. Insecurity is the major setback to our growth. It has literally crippled our economy, as criminal bandits in the North have a field day kidnapping farmers, looting their produce, setting farmlands on fire and killing them at will. Markets, worship centers, schools are not spared. Where security is guaranteed, economic activities would thrive, with citizens and government benefitting optimally.

5. Infrastructural development. With basic infrastructure in place, everyone would be motivated to play active role in nation building. This would see citizens engaging in productive activities that are skilled and unskilled in nature, as electricity, road network etc, that usually impede most undertakings have been adequately taken care of.

6. Take advantage of the growing population. The Nigerian youth, I must say, have braced up to meet current demands posed by population explosion. Hardly do you see a youth, both in rural and urban communities, that is not into one form of skilled or unskilled endeavour. The none formal business sector is fast growing. What is more, the youth are innovative. 

I have seen and heard of so many innovations made by Nigerian youths, whose input can bring about solutions to our problems in very many ways. But because they have not received deserving support either from government or the formal private sector, their talent is being wasted, their morale lowered, their spirit defeated and their determination encumbered. 

Imagine youth coming up with solar powered vehicles. Imagine the impact these youths can make in the ICT. Respective Governors should identify talented youths and empower them to properly harness what they have upstairs.

Conclusively, considering hyper inflation in the country, N70,000 minimum wage is grossly inadequate to solve pressing needs of citizens. This being the case, no Governor should contemplate not paying minimum wage".