Governor Yusuf Reiterates Commitment To Improve Workers Welfare

Although there’s anxiety on when the state government would announce the new minimum wage for workers in Kano State, there are indications that Governor Abba K. Yusuf is prepared to declare a package that would ameliorate suffering of workers as a result of rising cost of living.

Apart from the commitment, inside sources revealed that the Governor would consider the reality of economy, and the ability of the state to pay even above the constitutionally approved federal minimum wage.

Chairman Advisory Committee on Implementation of the new minimum wage, Alh. Usman Bala, gave the assurance in an interview with The Guardian in Kano. Bala, who is the Special Adviser to Governor Yusuf on State Affairs, revealed that reports and recommendations of the committee would soon be delivered to the Governor.

According to Bala, “Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was the first governor in Nigeria to take a proactive action for smooth implementation of the new minimum wage immediately after the President Bola Tinubu signed the bill into law.

“Part of the proactive measures was the formation of advisory Committee on implementation of the minimum wage being headed by my humble self to advise government on the appropriate figures, put into consideration, all variables especially the ability of government to pay.”

He continued: “Although I can’t pre-empt what the final decision of government will look like, I can assure that the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf has good intention to make life easier and improve the wellbeing of Kano workers.

“However, people must also understand that Kano has the largest strength of civil servants in Nigeria. Again, Kano is not even among the top 16 states in Nigeria with robust internally generating income. But that not withstanding, the government under Governor Yusuf is embarking on reform motivation to improve internal revenue mobilisation to measure up with others states already announced their minimum wage, far above the federal government template.”

Bala added: “Yes, Kano has the potential to stimulate more financial inflow, but we must also realise that government has the responsibility to meet all other equal needs of the people.

“The commitment to pay minimum wage is contesting with issues in healthcare system, agriculture, infrastructure, roads and other social basic needs are equally seeking and waiting for attention. So, the Governor is committed to rationalise both human and capital needs of the people” Bala assured.