Governor Abdullahi Sule has denied claims that his administration has failed to implement the new national minimum wage for workers in Nasarawa State, stressing that the state government has already implemented N70, 500 as minimum wage.

Governor Sule made the clarification while appearing as a guest on Arise TV monitored in Lafia on Wednesday.

The Governor however said that workers went on strike over the consequential adjustment that followed the implementation of the new minimum wage.

He pointed out that Nasarawa State does not have the resources to almost double the salary of a worker already earning above the N70, 500 in the name of consequential adjustment.

“Nasarawa State has already implemented the new minimum wage. We agreed on N70, 500. The challenge we are having with labour in Nasarawa State is not about the minimum but about the consequential adjustment.

“They are referring to other people who are earning more than 70, 000. How much to give them as increment. For instance, somebody who is earning N30, 000 as minimum wage today he is getting N70, 500. That is an increment of 40, 500. Some of the people that are earning probably far more than that are also expecting some percentage over 100 percent. For example, somebody earning N800, 000 is expecting us to pay at least another N800, 000. That is the part we said we can not do that. Nasarawa State does not have the resources to pay,” he stated.

While appealing for understanding, Governor Sule drew the attention of the striking workers to the fact that Nasarawa State is among the few states in the country that are up to date in the implementation of promotions for civil servants.

“Since we came, Nasarawa State has done all promotions to date. We are one of the few states in the federation. In fact, the local government employees have their promotions all the way to July. The state workers had their promotions all the to 20th December 2023. We have paid that. We have finished with that,” he said.

Governor Sule equally spoke on the controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tax reforms bills, expressing hope that the national assembly would to justice to Nigerians by stepping down the bills to allow for more inputs and further amendment.

Recall that both the Senate and House of Representatives halted further deliberation on the tax reform bills, with the Senate suspending its planned public hearing after it passed second reading.

According to the Governor, it is mischievous to assume that only the North would be affected if the tax reform bills were passed into law in their current forms.

“I will pray that the bills would be returned to the National Assembly and amended. I will pray that we would look at the areas of concern and amend such accordingly. I will pray that we don’t throw the entire baby and the bathe water. I believe very strongly there are areas that are of benefit to all Nigerians. I believe there are areas that are a challenge to all Nigerians, not just to the Northern part of the country,” he added.

Contrary to popular views suggesting that only Lagos State stood to benefit from the intended reforms, he confirmed that even the Lagos State Governor has concerns regarding portions of the bills.

“There are certain areas that are challenging. My good friend, the Governor of Lagos State even said there are parts of the bills that are even disadvantegeous to him. Because everybody is accusing Lagos State. But there are parts of the bills that would not benefit Lagos. He is also against some portions of the bills,” he said.

While welcoming the decision by both chambers of the National Assembly to listen to Nigerians by halting the process of passing the bills into law, he said that is the way to go in order to accommodate the aspirations of the people.

“I think that is the way we have to look at it. I’m happy that, if they have withdrawn it. It gives us the opportunity to sit down. Remember, the NEC made up of all the governors, FCT Minister, Minister of Finance and Budget Planning and chaired by the Vice President, the number two citizen of the country. NEC said please, take a pause and review it,” he said.