KGSG sets up 17-man ₦30,000 minimum wage committee »

Kogi State Government has set up a 17 – man committee for the implementation of the new ₦30,000 minimum wage that was recently agreed to by the Federal Government and the organised labour in the country.

Performing the inauguration this Tuesday in Lokoja, the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja said his administration believes setting up the committee was a step in the right direction.

He noted that his administration believes that dialogue was better than confrontation, hence the coming together of stakeholders to exchange ideas on the matter, using facts, figures and comparative analysis to be able to agree to terms that would guide them on the new minimum wage for the civil service.

The Governor expressed optimism that the committee would do justice to the matter even as he admitted there may be divergent views and conflicting information, noting that the interest should be for a better Kogi State, a motivated work force, and a reformed system for the good of all parties involved.

Governor Bello then reeled out the terms of reference for the committee which is being chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Folashade Ayoade Arike to include; obtaining and studying of the National Minimum Wage Amendment Act, 2019 and the Consequencial Adjustment at the Federal Level.

The terms also specifies that the committee should also obtain and study copies of agreements reached between the Federal Government and the organised Labour Union in line with Consequential Adjustment/Increase in all the salary structures.

Others are; Liaise with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employmen, if necessary, for Technical Assistance on the implementation of the new minimum wage for the state.

To develop and advise government on how to successfully bring about a smooth implementation of impending wage increase; identify new revenue sources as well as areas of existing expenditure from where some savings could be made in order to fund the wage increases without adversely impacting on the development of the state.

The rest of the terms of reference are for the committee to propose a work plan and modalities for the implementation of the salary increases; understudy the states that have already commenced the implementation of the new minimum wage for proper guidance, especially those within the central geopolitical zone of the country where Kogi is situated. That includes Nassarawa, Niger, Benue, Plateau and Kwara States.

The rest are for the committee to bring forward any other suggestion that would assist in the implementation of the proposed salary increase and that it should be guided by the revenue accruals to the state vis – a – vis its ability to pay the minimum wage.

Earlier in his address, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pharmacist Abdulkareem Asuku said the Governor’s decision to set up the committee was part his show of love for the state civil servants and to buy into the the federal government’s desire to improve the welfare of the public servants.

In her own address on behalf of the committee members, the secretary to the State Government, Dr Folashade Ayoade promised to meet the all the terms put before the committee in the interest of the state work force.

The committee has 30 days to submit its report.

The committee also has Elder Deborah Ogunmola, the Head of Civil service of the state; Hon. Ibrahim Muhammed Sani (SAN), Special Adviser to the Governor of Legal Matters; Hon Asiwaju Asiru Idris, Special Adviser to the Governor on Finance, Budget and Economic Planning and Engr. Abubakar Ohere Sadiq, Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as members.

Other members include; Hon. Momoh Jibrin, State Accountant-General; Hon. Okala Yakubu, State Auditor-General; Hon. Usman Ododo, Local Government Auditor-General Comrade Akeji Yusuf, Chairman Joint Negotiating Council and Comrade Tade Adeyemi, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE).

Comrade I.A Abubakar of the Joint Negotiating Council; Comrade Thomas Ayodele of the Nigeria Union of Teachers; Comrade Meliga Obaka of Association of Senior Civil Servants; and Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Communication Strategy form the rest of the the committee’s membership.