Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has announced that his administration is unable to pay the new national minimum wage of N70,000. Despite an increase in federal allocation to states since the removal of petrol subsidies, Governor Yahaya stated that Gombe State’s limited resources make it impossible to implement the increased wage package.
Speaking at a meeting with labor leaders and civil society organizations, the Governor noted that even the previous minimum wage of N30,000 was a struggle for many state governments to implement. He also mentioned that Gombe State has yet to receive the promised 20 trucks of rice from the federal government aimed at alleviating the suffering of its citizens.
This development comes ahead of a planned nationwide protest and highlights the challenges states face in implementing the new minimum wage. Governor Yahaya’s comments suggest that many other states may also be struggling to pay the increased wage.