Dr. Josef Onoh, former spokesman for Asiwaju Tinubu’s campaign and current coordinator of Asiwaju Renewed Mandate in the Southeast, has praised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for not embarking on a strike over the minimum wage issue. Onoh also called on South East governors to implement the proposed N62,000 minimum wage for workers in their states, stating that federal allocation and internally generated revenue are sufficient to pay the proposed wage benchmark.
He emphasized that the federal government’s proposal considers the private sector’s ability to pay and sustain the wage without crippling businesses. Onoh urged the governors to reconsider their position and work with the federal government to move the country forward. He noted that the Southeast governors have received significant funds in the past year, making it unfair to claim they cannot pay the proposed minimum wage.
Onoh expressed optimism that the federal government’s initiatives, such as transportation and agriculture programs, will help reduce inflation and complement the governors’ efforts. He encouraged the Southeast governors to prioritize payment of the minimum wage, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the federal and state governments.
