Minimum wage: No excuse for LGs not to pay N70,000 — Council chairman

According to Fatai Ayoola, the chairman of the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area in Lagos State, local governments have no justification for not enforcing the recently authorized ₦70,000 minimum wage.

Ayoola made this known in Lagos on Thursday, adding that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has given local governments more financial autonomy and federal resources, allowing them to meet the new salary expectations.

According to the Daily Post, he emphasized that under the present administration, federal funding to local governments has risen, enabling them to properly handle the higher pay needs.

Ayoola said, “There is no reason councils should not be able to pay the minimum wage, with direct federal allocations to them.

“Ajeromi-Ifelodun pays more than the minimum wage in terms of allowances added to the salaries of our staff members.

“Paying the minimum wage will not pose any issue to us and will not affect our ongoing and future projects.”

Ayoola added that the council regularly supports its employees and members of the community through a number of initiatives.

"We buy a trailer of rice monthly bag the rice into 10kgs and sell it for less than ₦7,000 to people in our communities. We also distribute portions of cow meat, we take care of security outfits that support protecting our environment,” he stated. 

He commended President Bola Tinubu for giving local governments financial autonomy, which enables them to guarantee responsibility and have a greater influence on their people.

Ayoola asked Nigerians to hold their local government chairmen responsible and urged local council members to make the required sacrifices for the sake of grassroots communities.

Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Government has announced its readiness to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the state.

Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, made the announcement on Tuesday during a visit to the Correspondents’ Chapel in Lafia. 

Ahemba stated that the new minimum wage would enhance the welfare of civil servants and increase their productivity.