Minimum wage: PDP governors issue notice to FG, labour
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum has said that the ability of state and local governments to pay the minimum wage must be considered in the negotiation between labour leaders and the Federal Government.
The forum’s chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, stated this in a communique issued at the end of the forum’s meeting in Enugu on Wednesday.
Mohammed noted that the minimum wage negotiation was becoming unduly protracted in the face of attending unprecedented hardship and impoverishment of the majority of the people.
“The labour demand which is substantially salary raise is eminently justified and therefore calls for proper support of the forum.
“While negotiation are ongoing, we appeal for restraining of utterance and actions that could lead to complete breakdown of law and order and ultimately lead to the collapse of the economy,” he said.
On the economy, Mohammed expressed dismay and great concern on the “mismanagement of the economy” by the APC-led government, urging the party to take proactive measures to save Nigeria from collapsing.
Mohammed added that the forum would continue to support the autonomy of the local government as enshrined in the constitution and as ruled by the Supreme Court.
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According to him, PDP governors believe in the efficacy of the local government system which ensures that governance is brought closer to the people as provided in the constitution.
On the off-season election in Edo and Ondo, the governor admonished all the parties to ensure that their campaigns are based on relevant issues, violence-free and compliant to the procedures of the Electoral Act.
Mohammed called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide enabling environment that guaranteed level play ground, fairness and peaceful elections, maintaining that any act of bias would be totally resisted by the party.
“We therefore, urge Mr President to show leadership as a true democratic and refrain from making any statement suggesting political interference in the entire election process,” he advised.