Borno inaugurates minimum wage committee

Governor Babagana Zulum has inaugurated a committee to work out a new minimum wage for workers in the Borno State civil service.

According to Zulum, the committee was set up to advise the state government on the implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage for workers.

The committee comprises the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), stakeholders, and state government officials.

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Inaugurating the 22-member panel in Maiduguri on Monday, Zulum said: “They are to work out an affordable minimum wage and advise the state government on the seamless implementation of workers’ monthly salaries.”

Besides the affordable workers’ wage, Zulum said: “Today’s inaugurated committee is to work with all the stakeholders and consider the financial capacity.”

He stated that this will enable the state government to sustain the implementation of the new minimum wage in the civil service.

On the committee’s terms of reference, the governor said: “You are to analyse the current consequential salary adjustments at the federal level and determine the extent to which it can be applied in totality or partially in the state.”

Zulum noted that the consequential adjustment at the federal level will guide the state government in arriving at a reasonable minimum wage for workers.

According to him, the workers’ minimum wage will be based on the “specific prevailing peculiarities.”

He stated that other terms of reference include the determination of an appropriate percentage ratio that could be added to the proportionate current salary structure to the existing salary grade levels.

Zulum, therefore, urged the committee members to also visit other states in obtaining their new scale and tables for guidance.

Governor Zulum also pledged to create a conducive working environment and improve the conditions of service for civil servants in Borno State.

“Our expectations from the civil service cannot be realised until they are well motivated to put in their best in service delivery to the people,” he noted.

“This informed my administration’s decision to kick-start reform initiatives in ensuring change in leadership in the civil service.”