Bauchi Workers Okays N70, 000 Minimum Wage, Hails Governor Bala’s Magnanimity 

By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi

The Organized labour in Bauchi state has commended Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for supporting the welfare of the state workforce, particularly the approval for the implementation of the N70, 000 new national minimum wage in the state.

“I want to most sincerely on behalf of the entire civil servants of Bauchi state, and by extension leadership of all the affiliate of the NLC and TUC, commend His Excellency, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for coming into our aid of approving this implementation”, state NLC chairman Dauda Shu’aibu said.

Comrade Dauda Shu’aibu who was Friday addressing the press on successful negotiations on the new national minimum wage in the state, said “We highly commended the Governor, along with all other people that played vital role, that made the happening possible.

Shu’aibu, who on behalf of the organized labour promised reciprocacy of the gesture, also hailed the state head of service, adviser on civil service, chairman of the state inland revenue service and the state accountant general, among others, for the successful conduct of the negotiations on minimum wage.

He explained that the national minimum wage would be implemented across board of the state government and local government council services effective from this November, stressing “I want to inform you that the state government has graciously approved the implementation of the N70, 000 minimum wage in the state”.

“The first day we met, government formed a committee comprising of six persons from each side of the public service and organized labour chaired by the Accountant-General of the state. At the end we unanimously resolved and signed agreement between the government and the organized labour, and the agreement was witnessed by all relevant stakeholders”.

Comrade Dauda Shu’aibu added, “On behalf of all the workers in the state, we expressed our sincere gratitude to his Excellency the Governor, Bala Mohammed for the approval of the new national minimum wage. We hereby assure him that we are going to reciprocate this gesture,”

“Alongside the N70,000 minimum wage, we have also submitted a letter for N32,000 pension payment in the state. The Governor has not opposed it but urged us to give him a little time as we have just ended the new national minimum wage.

He however ruled out the possiblity of arrears payment on the new national minimum wage, saying, “We didn’t discuss the issue of arrears, based on reality and the amount of money added (to the minimum wage), the burden is too huge. I cannot guarantee you of arrears”.

“We signed for the implementation of N70, 000, and we have not discussed the issue of arrears. And back on reality, we know the quantum of the money that if added to the salary, the problem was too huge, so I cannot guarantee you as to whether there is going to be arrears or not, because it is not part of the agreement”.

“The issue of arrears is not captured in the agreement we had”.we signed the agreement for the new minimum wage on the 21st of November, 2024. We have signed it and that it will take effect this month of November, 2024, Insha-Allah”.

“If you can recall, workers from grade level 1 – 6, if you look at the percentage of their own increase, it it different from that of grade level 7- 10, and that of 11 – 15 is also different, that’s why we are calling it consequential, it has been done consequentially, the benefits are not going to be the same”, Shu’aibu added.

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