Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, who also chairs the Northern Governors Forum, expressed concerns about the practicality of implementing the new national minimum wage of N70,000.
During a meeting with labor leaders, civil society organizations, and traders associations at the Government House in Gombe on Tuesday, Governor Inuwa highlighted the financial difficulties faced by the state, which receives one of the lowest federal allocations, making it challenging to pay the increased wage.
The governor pointed out that even the previously approved N30,000 minimum wage was a struggle for many state governments to pay. He emphasized that the current economic situation further complicates the implementation of the new wage structure.
Governor Inuwa also disclosed that Gombe State had not received the 20 trucks of rice promised by the federal government to alleviate the people’s suffering.
He clarified in his address, delivered in Hausa, that “Even the N5 billion palliative said to have been given to states, Gombe State did not receive that. What I know we collected was N2 billion against the N5 billion said to have been given to states as palliatives from the federal government.”
Regarding the removal of the fuel subsidy, which has exacerbated economic hardship, Governor Inuwa explained that the policy was initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari but was only officially announced by the current President Bola Tinubu because it was not included in the 2023 budget.
He noted that Tinubu could not submit a supplementary budget for the fuel subsidy to the National Assembly since it was not inaugurated when he assumed office on May 29, 2023. Therefore, “he had no option but to announce the subsidy removal.” Governor Inuwa urged stakeholders to collaborate in finding alternatives to protests, which he believes often result in violence and destruction.
