States bound to implement new minimum wage

As the minimum wage controversy rages in the country, Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Sunday, maintained that state governments were bound to implement the new wage structure as it had been

passed into law.

The governor, who insisted that Edo State government was committed to paying the new wage at the National Executive Council meeting of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, in Benin City, said government must be seen to respect the rule of law.

“The law is not always convenient, but we must obey it, whether convenient or not,” Governor Oshiomhole said.
According to him, the federal, state and local governments have no discretion on the issue of minimum wage.

“We will certainly implement the minimum wage. In the next few weeks, we would have finished negotiating with the unions, not on whether to implement the minimum wage or not, because it will definitely be implemented, but to know how to implement it for those already above the minimum wage,” he said.

On deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry, the governor said it was wrong for anyone to suggest that it was a battle the governors were fighting, adding that deregulation had been on over the years, and had nothing to do with state governors.

Rather, Oshiomhole said, it was strictly an issue for the Federal Government.

The governor commended NAWOJ for organizing the NEC meeting in Edo State, saying the conference came at an interesting time after the general elections in the country.

He added:  “The international community and election observers are unanimous that there is an improvement from the past elections in the country.

“This is a remarkable progress to build on and the role of the media cannot be underestimated. Credible elections are important, but not enough to have democracy that work for the people.”

Earlier, Chairperson, NAWOJ, Edo State, Comrade Ijeoma Umeh commended the state governor for the development efforts across the state and she disclosed that the NEC meeting with the theme, “Gender Mainstreaming: Requisite for attaining national development” was dedicated to late (Mrs.) Clara Oshiomhole, first lady of Edo State.

The NAWOJ NEC meeting was attended by delegates from across the country, including the President, Asabe Baba Nahaya.-vanguard