The Borno State Government has explained the challenges preventing it from extending the N70,000 minimum wage to local government workers, citing financial constraints and an overstretched workforce.
READ ALSO: Gov. Idris approves new minimum wage
According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Modu Alhaji Mustapha, the major hurdle is the unusually large number of employees across the state’s 27 local government areas. He said Borno has around 90,000 local government staff, significantly higher than states like Kano, which operates with about 30,000 employees.
Mustapha noted that the local governments are already burdened and unable to meet the wage demand under the current structure. For instance, the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council reportedly receives monthly allocations from the federal government that sometimes fall below N700 million which is insufficient to cover the N778 million required to pay staff under the proposed wage.
Apart from salaries, the council is responsible for providing essential services such as public health, water supply, and security, all of which further strain available resources.
In response to the situation, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has directed all 27 local government chairmen to consult with relevant stakeholders to develop a sustainable plan for implementing the new wage. However, he ruled out any retrenchment of workers as a solution.
The governor urged workers to remain patient, assuring them that the government is actively working with the councils to address the issue. He also highlighted that the N72,000 minimum wage has already been implemented for state civil servants and primary school teachers.
