I’ll Pay Any Amount Agreed As Minimum Wage Between FG And Labour – Ortom

Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom has promised to pay any amount the committee negotiating the minimum wage agrees upon.

This Ortom said today in Makurdi, Benue capital, when members of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other unions visited him to demand the upward review of wages.

Labour is proposing N30,000 and have vowed to shut down all activities in the country if their demands are not met.

Ortom, who was represented by his chief of staff, Terwase Orbunde, said he was not against the upward review of workers’ minimum wages “in spite of the current economic challenges bedeviling the country”.

“I will work in line with the outcome of the new minimum wage committee. I am known for championing improved welfare for workers. I did it when I was the chairman of Guma local government area,” he said.

“When I came on board as governor, primary school teachers were not receiving the N18,000.00 minimum wage. I stepped up their salaries without waiting for them to mount pressure on me to do so.

“I wanted them to be at par with other civil servants in the state. They did not march in protest before I increased their salaries. I am not against a better life for workers.”

While Ortom’s colleagues had said they lacked the capacity to pay N30,000, Femi Adesina, spokesman of

President Muhammadu Buhari, said those holding public offices would not be able to pay N30,000 even if they sacrifice their pay.