Northern govs adamant over minimum wage

[TGD]

 Decry alleged illegal deductions from Federation Account

GOVERNORS of the 19 Northern states rose from a meeting yesterday in Abuja, declaring that the N18,000 minimum  wage would only be implemented in their states when their economies improved.

They also decried what they called illegal deductions from the Federation Account.

The meeting, which was held on the platform of the Northern Governors' Forum and presided over by its Chairman and Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, also expressed satisfaction over the measures put in place by the governors of Borno, Plateau and Bauchi states to restore peace in their states.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, which took place at the Niger State Governor's Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, Governor Aliyu said the forum deliberated on efforts being made by each of the 19 states to implement the minimum wage.

His words: "We recognise the minimum wage law and each state is trying to implement it. But we agreed that we must not buckle under pressure. The welfare of workers can only improve when the economies of the states improve."

The forum, according to Aliyu, also resolved that the issue of reviewing the Revenue Allocation Formula must be given top priority to enhance the economies of the states.

On the alleged illegal deductions from the Federation Account, Aliyu said: "The meeting resolved that the 19 states of the North will continue to insist that all illegal deductions from the accounts be refunded to it.

"The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) all deducted some money beyond what was budgeted for them."

The governor made it clear that Northern states had no problem with the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) Act assented to by the President a few months ago, but insisted that the NNPC and the PPPRA must be prevailed upon to refund the money they allegedly illegally deducted from the Federation Account.

On ways of reducing insecurity, the forum also advised all governors to mount formidable campaigns against the use of thugs in politics.

"Many people use thugs but it is unfortunate because that has contributed to the insecurity we now have. Every governor is trying to do away with that now. That is why we have now resolved that all governors should encourage the crusade against thuggery in his state."

Aliyu said that it was equally agreed that each governor should embark on tour of every community in his state to mobilise people against insecurity

On Plateau State crisis, he said it was observed that the cause of the crisis in that state was beyond it.

Accordingly, Aliyu stated that the 19 states of the North agreed to make contacts with other states nationwide to entrench peace in the country.

Seventeen out of the 19 states were represented at the meeting. Only Kogi and Benue states were not represented.



The Guardian