By David Akinmola
Fresh findings have revealed wide disparities in the implementation of the new national minimum wage across states, with several subnational governments yet to fully comply with the approved benchmark despite rising cost of living pressures.
Although the Federal Government had approved a new wage structure for workers, checks show that while a handful of states have commenced full payment, others are either paying partially, negotiating with labour unions, or yet to implement the increase.
The development has reignited concerns over fiscal sustainability at the state level, with many governors citing revenue constraints and rising debt obligations as key impediments to full compliance.
Investigations indicate that states with relatively stronger internally generated revenue and federal allocations are leading in implementation, while economically weaker states continue to lag.
Labour leaders have expressed frustration over what they described as uneven compliance, warning that workers in non-compliant states are bearing the brunt of inflation and declining purchasing power.
A union official said: “The minimum wage is a legal obligation, not discretionary. Workers across all states deserve fair and equitable treatment regardless of where they are employed.”
In some states, governments have opted for staggered implementation, prioritising lower-grade workers while negotiations continue for higher salary levels.
Others have introduced wage adjustments through allowances and bonuses as interim measures, pending full alignment with the new structure.
Economic analysts note that the disparities reflect broader structural challenges in Nigeria’s fiscal federalism, where states’ capacity to pay wages varies significantly.
They warn that without reforms to boost revenue generation and reduce dependence on federal allocations, wage compliance will remain inconsistent.
The issue has also sparked renewed debate over the need for a differentiated wage system that takes into account the economic realities of individual states, although labour unions have consistently opposed such proposals.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have continued to mount pressure on state governments to comply fully with the wage law.
They warned that failure to implement the approved minimum wage could trigger industrial actions in affected states.
As negotiations continue across the country, workers remain hopeful that ongoing engagements between labour and state governments will yield positive outcomes in the coming weeks.
However, with inflation still elevated and economic pressures mounting, the gap between policy and implementation continues to widen, leaving millions of workers uncertain about when they will fully benefit from the new wage regime.
