To lessen the impact of the economy on the populace, President Bola Tinubu has urged the 36 State governors of the Federation to start disbursing wage awards to workers while the new minimum wage is being determined.
The president stated that much-needed relief would be provided without putting inflationary pressures on the states if the wage awards had been executed.
Speaking on Monday at the commissioning of the remodelled domestic terminal of Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport and the flag-off of the agricultural mechanisation revolution for food security in Minna, Niger State, the President said that all states must adopt the wage award and that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would likewise adopt the same.
He said: “If all of you, the sub-nationals have been paying the wages award, pending the determination of the new salary wage. Let all the states start paying the wages award. Whatever they are taking now plus the wage award would relieve the public.
“Please, I am not giving an order, I am appealing to you states, start paying the wages awards, let everyone start paying it. It is a relief to the people. The mechanism is the fact that it won’t be inflationary if we announce the new salary wage in a few weeks or months, they would have gotten used to the basic wages of N30,000 plus the wages award, and it will have a dampening effect on the market. Please get sub-nationals together and NEC should adopt this.”
The President promised that although the government was taking action to end hunger, student loans and other economic measures will soon be implemented.
“The student loan programme will commence, there will be unemployment benefits for our graduates, and the social security programme for the elderly and vulnerable will commence, we are fine-tuning all these areas. We will relieve people of hunger.”
Along with outlining plans for a comprehensive programme to address the problems of violent attacks, cattle rustling, and other related issues, Tinubu promised to arrange the launch of the Livestock Change programme in Nigeria in the coming weeks with the goal of turning the problems of the present into opportunities for the country’s economy.
“Give me two to three weeks. You will be part of the inauguration of the livestock change in Nigeria. I know what it means to economic sabotage for roaming cows to eat up the crops and vegetation of our lands, it could be painful but when we reorient the herders and make provision for cattle rearing. The Governors should provide the lands and as the President, I am committed to giving you a comprehensive programme that will solve this problem.”
He expressed his support to the state government and praised Mohammed Umaru Bago, the governor of Niger State, for his persistent and aggressive efforts to ensure an agricultural revolution for food security, including the state’s ascent to the top of the national food production rankings.
He added: “We have seen the level of commitment here from the state level, we have seen leadership and the success story of any leader is the ability to do what they ought to do at the time they ought to do it. You are doing the job, you are walking the talk and I must support you.
“Whatever support you need, you will get. We appreciate your efforts in the infrastructure development of the state, and I guarantee you the federal support. We flag off the hope, you deliver the hope and you reassure Nigerians.”
