By Chidimma Onwuka

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has criticised the selection process of state governors drafted as members of the 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage, noting that most governors on the panel do not pay the current minimum wage.

Ajaero, while speaking to newsmen said, Most of the governors in the minimum wage committee are those who are not paying minimum wage or paying them in breaches. The governors who are in full compliance with the minimum wage are not adequately represented, so whatever made the Federal Government bring in those who are not compliant or compliant in breaches to form the bulk of the membership of the minimum wage committee from the state government, that will unfold with time.

Earlier in the day, Vice President Kashim Shettima had inaugurated the committee at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Village Abuja, saying the decision was aimed at ensuring a decent living wage and in compliance with the existing National Minimum Wage Act of 2019 which will expire in a few months from now.

The governors on the list are Mohammed Bago of Niger State representing the Nigeria Governors Forum, representing the North Central; Sen. Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State- representing the North East; Umar  Radda of Katsina State, representing the North West; Prof. Charles Soludo of Anambra State, representing the South East;  Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, from South West; and Otu Bassey of Cross River State who is representing the South-South.