WE CAN’T MEET UP WITH N62,000 NEW MINIMUM WAGE – ALGON
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The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) declared on Monday that local councils cannot afford to pay the proposed N62, 000 as the new minimum wage, citing the meager allocation coming from the federation account as a major factor responsible for their rejection.
The National President of ALGON, Alh. Aminu Muazu-Maifata, explained in an interview with journalists in Lafia that all the 774 Local Government Councils in the country get allocations of a little above 18 percent from the Federation Account monthly and hinged his argument on the gross inadequateness of funds to pay the N62, 000 minimum wage.
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Recall that the representatives of the Federal Government and the private sector at the tripartite committee for the negotiation of the new minimum wage had proposed N62, 000, while the organised labour moved from N494, 000 to N250, 000.
According to Muazu-Maifata, even if the local government executives decide to set aside the entire monthly allocation for salaries, ALGON will still not have sources to implement the new minimum wage.
“Apart from payment of wages, we still have other responsibilities, such as provision of affordable healthcare, education, security, traditional institutions, rural roads as well as youths and women empowerment among others, to contend with,” the ALGON president declared.
Muazu-Maifata, who is the Chairman of Lafia Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State, however, said that the council Chairmen were in support of wage increments for civil servants, but the revenue coming to the local government is small.
The ALGON president appealed for increase in the monthly allocations of the 774 LGAs in the country to enable them pay the proposed minimum wage.
“I want to appeal for increase allocation to local governments in Nigeria. ALGON has a lot of responsibilities to meet up with the N62, 000 minimum wage”.
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“We will also give priority to issues of security at the local level and attract interventions from development partners to our various councils,” Muazu-Maifata added.
“I also want to improve the on existing unity amongst the various LGAs Chairmen and administrations in the country in order to better the lives of our people.
“Unity among LGAs Chairmen will help us compare notes and come up with good policies and programmes to improve governance for the benefits of the people at the grassroots.
The ALGON leader also made a case for amendment of the constitution to make the tenure of office of LGAs officials uniform across the country for smooth administration., Promising that the association would work with other stakeholders to ensure full implementation of the area councils autonomy as enshrined in the country’s constitution.
“The tenure of office of LGAs officials should be made four years to enable them deliver on their campaign promises to the electorates. The tenure is three years in some states and two years in some other states, which is not good for the administration at the local councils,” he stated.
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