Governor Sule Agrees To Implement 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 And 2023 Pending  Promotion Of Workers

Rabiu Omaku

Nasarawa State  Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has announced the decision of his administration to commence the implementation of the outstanding 2019,2020,2021,2022 and 2023 promotions of workers effective July this year.

He gave the hint during an interaction with labour leaders in the State preparatory to an indefinite strike over the non-implementation of pending promotions from 2019 to date.

Engineer Abdullahi Sule said the demand by labour for the implementation of the promotion of workers from 2019 to date, would amount to about N200m is the easiest to approve but it will mean suspension of the implementation of the new minimum wage for a period of up to two years.

Governor Sule conceded to the demands of the organized labour in the state by accepting to implement a backlog of promotions for workers, instead of implementing the new N70, 000 minimum wage. 

Recall that the Governor has announced the decision of his administration to commence the implementation of the new minimum wage this August, promising to even pay workers arrears for three months starting from May, June and July all in August. 

However, the labour unions during the meeting, prevailed on the Governor to suspend the implementation of the new minimum wage and to pay them their outstanding promotions. 

He declared his administration’s readiness for transparency and open door policy, he reeled out all the options available considering the financial capability of the state, allowing the labour unions to make their decision based on the resources at the disposal of the state.

“I made a promise to you that once the minimum wage is agreed, by the middle of August, today is the 12th, we will be able to work out a template to pay the areas of May, June and July.  And for August, we will take off with the new minimum wage. That was my promise, that was my wish, that is my prayer, that is my commitment up till this moment,” he said.

Governor Sule said the demand by labour for the implementation of the promotion of workers from 2019 to date, which would amount to about N200m is the easiest to approve but it will mean suspension of the implementation of the new minimum wage for a period of up to two years.

“I am much more aware, more than two months ago, that we have agreed on promotion between 2019 to date, that is from 2019-2023. The idea was to address promotion for the last four years 2019 to 2023 so that we will be up to date. We will not fall into the same problem that we had, which I inherited, where workers were not promoted for over eight years.

“What I told you then was that we were waiting for what will be the impact of the minimum wage. If the impact of the minimum wage comes to us as say, N800m a month, if you put together this N200m, it is about one billion. The state cannot pay. The state cannot pay,” he stated.

He explained that even though the federation allocation to the state has improved following the removal of the oil subsidy, the cost of materials has also appreciated such that even with the improved allocation Nasarawa State will still not be able to implement both the promotion of workers and new minimum wage at the same time.

“The contract of N3bn before is now N8bn the cost of materials has changed. Even the cost of security has changed.  That is the reality. I am not hiding anything from you, my books are open. Whatever you need to know, ask we will give it to you. 

“It will not be my promise to, forget about the minimum wage, and implement the promotion today. In that case, even when they finish everything regarding the minimum wage, we leave it for a little while, maybe for two years or more. I’m serious.  Where are we going to get the money?” he stated.

He mentioned the request by labour stated in an earlier letter of appreciation where the unions asked him to suspend the implementation of the new minimum wage to a later date, at least when the Federal