The Federal Government appears to be in a dilemma on how to source funds to pay the new N30,000 minimum wage to workers. The development is generating tension as the government fears that this might lead to another round of crisis between it and organised labour.
Vanguard reliably gathered that between N200 billion and N300 billion is required annually to handle the payment of the new N30,000 minimum wage but the Federal Government budget of about N150 billion is said to be grossly inadequate to take care of the workers’ new salary structure.
Though the Federal Government has indicated its willingness to pay, having assured workers, the calculation by appropriate ministries shows that the government requires about N300 billion annually to cover all agencies of government. More worrisome is the fact that both the Senate and House of Representatives have recommended the N30, 000 but government appears to be in a big mess because it doesn’t have that amount in the budget.
It was further gathered that with N150 billion, some agencies of government such as the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, will not have money to pay salaries. Vanguard
