Senate May Reverse Govs’ Position On Minimum Wage

Indications have merged that the controversy trailing the issue of minimum wage of N18, 000 for civil servants in the country may not end soon as the Senate seems set to kick against the position taken by the

Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) that petroleum subsidy be removed to pave way for implementation of the law.

Addressing a press conference in the National Assembly yesterday, a re-elected senator representing Yobe North and immediate past chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Account, Senator Ahmed Lawan, said that the recent call by the governors under the aegis of  NGF is contrary to the spirit of the constitution.

He posited that instead of removal of the petroleum subsidy, more funds should be made available to the  36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, adding that the constitution makes the welfare of citizens the primary purpose of government.

Quoting the  1999 constitution as amended, Lawan said: “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, states in section 14(b); the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. In the light of the above provision of the constitution, the recent call by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on the federal government to remove subsidy on petroleum products so that the states can pay the N18,000 (eighteen thousand Naira) minimum wage is contrary to the spirit of the provision.  I am convinced that there is need to provide more funds for the states from the Federation Account to enable them face squarely their diverse and numerous development challenges.’’

Lawan further contended that removal of subsidy on petroleum products would adversely President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda. His words: “The transformation agenda should mean making life better for Nigerians through provision of capital infrastructure and social services. The removal of subsidy on petroleum products will surely be a false start for the race to achieving the transformation agenda.”