The 774 constitutionally recognised councils have made their stance known on the controversial minimum wage.
The latter has been an apple of discord as the workers are demanding for N250,000 as against the N62,000 offered by the federal government, the state government and the Organised Private Sector.
Stating their own position, through Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) chairman, Aminu Muazu-Maifata, the councils said they are incapable of even paying the N62,000.
Muazu-Maifata, who is the chairman of Lafia Local Government, Nasarawa State, stated this on a national television, saying: “With the present allocation from the Federation Account, no local government council in Nigeria can afford to pay N62,000.”
Speaking further: “Presently, 90% of our inflow from the Federation Account goes into salaries and pensions. Without an upward review of the percentage of allocation to local government councils, it will be extremely difficult or even impossible for them to pay a N62,000 minimum wage.”
