Why we can’t implement new minimum wage for Delta LG workers – ALGON

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Delta State chapter has explained why it has not been able to implement the new minimum wage of N30,000 for workers at the local councils and primary school teachers.

Implementation of the new wage started late last year in the country across all tiers of government in Nigeria.

But local councils said they have been able to meet with the additional obligation in terms of wage increment for the workers as a result of financial difficulties faced at the grassroots level of governance, according to the state ALGON chairman, Itiako Ikpokpo.

Ikpokpo, in a statement, said the salary responsibility for local council workers and primary school teachers rests squarely on councils and not on the state government.

His explanation is coming after an emergency meeting following the ultimatum by the state chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the primary school structure of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU).

He appealed to the workers to shelve the planned strike as ALGON was working assiduously on how to implement the new minimum wage.

“Payment of salaries of primary school teachers and council staff rests squarely with the local governments and not the Delta State Government.

“It is on record that ALGON has held several consultative meetings and dialogue with the leadership of the workers on how to implement the minimum wage.

“The last being two weeks ago at the Unity Hall where we agreed to meet with His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa with representatives of NULGE, NUT, SUBEB, the Delta State Accountant General, State Directorate of Local Government and the Local Government Service Commission on how to find common ground on the issue,” he explained.

Ikpokpo who is the executive chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area, noted that while the new wage has been effected for local government workers on grade levels one to six, dwindling finances of councils has hampered its implementation for workers above these levels.

“Local governments in Delta State are not averse to full implementation of the new minimum wage. While it has been effected for workers at the lower rung of the service, (grade levels one to six), financial difficulties faced by the local governments has hindered its implementation for staff on grade levels seven and above,” he stated.

He observed that local governments are presently faced with acute financial challenges and will not be able to shoulder full implementation of the new minimum wage except they borrow or are pushed into staff retrenchment.

The chairman warned that both options were presently not in the best interest of the councils, stating that the governor has specifically appealed against retrenchment of workers.

According to him, the state presidents of NULGE and NUT attends the monthly Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) and understand perfectly the financial condition of the ocal governments.

“While we appreciate the consideration and cooperation of the affected workers on the delay associated with the implementation of the minimum wage, we wish to earnestly appeal to them to show more understanding by shelving the proposed strike action as government is working assiduously on how to find a way out of the pathetic situation.

“We are committed in ensuring the implementation of the minimum wage across all grade levels in the local governments and Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in no distant time when hopefully the finances of the councils improves,” he assured.