This comes after SaharaReporters' story on August 26, detailing how workers in Kebbi lamented pay deductions after Governor Idris failed to pay N70,000 minimum wage.
The governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, has agreed to pay the N70,000 approved new national minimum wage to state workers.
This comes after SaharaReporters' story on August 26, detailing how workers in Kebbi lamented pay deductions after Governor Idris failed to pay N70,000 minimum wage.
The governor who was until his election one of the organized labour movement leaders in the country, disclosed to labour leaders on Friday that the state government was ready to pay the new minimum wage.
While describing as hasty a conclusion in some quarters that his administration had failed to implement the new wage, he promised to pay upon delivery of a template from the federal government.
He said, "Even the federal government that approved the new wage is yet to commence payment. This will be so until modalities are finalised. When we are ready, the NLC and my government will dialogue to chart the best course of action for implementation."
On claims of arbitrary deductions noticed from August staff salaries the governor explained that "the annual development levy of N500 being implemented since the defunct Sokoto state, was the meagre amount the government deducted from workers’ salaries and its allowed by law.
“The deductions from the workers salaries only amounted to N11 million,” he said.
Earlier, the state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Murtala Usman, had thanked the governor, describing him as the “most labour friendly” in the country.