'18,000 minimum wage stays, cut your travels instead' - Fayose tells Governors

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has distanced himself from the calls by State Governors to cut down workers' N18,000 minimum wage or that a massive retrenchment exercise be carried out in the public sector.

This was contained in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Friday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi.

READ: ‘We can’t afford N18,000 minimum wage,’ Governors say

Fayose advised his fellow Governors suggesting the minimum wage reduction to cut back on their excessive travels and unnecessary spendings instead, noting that the N18,000 is not even enough for the workers.

“Today most newspapers carried the story about call by some state governors that the minimum wage of N18,000 be reduced or that there should be massive retrenchment of workers in the public service. They are on their own and I take exemption to that. The minimum wage is even not enough.

“Reduction of wages or retrenchment of workers won’t happen in Ekiti State. Instead of those anti-labour and anti-people policies, the governors should cut down on their travels and tours and cut down minimum wives and children and their affluence. Let the governors cut their coats according to their sizes”, Fayose said.

READ:'If you can't pay N18,000 Minimum Wage, resign' - Ex-NLC leader tells Governors

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and governor of Zamfara state, Abdul'aziz Abubakar Yari,had saidthat the current low prices in oil prices is making the payment of N18, 000 minimum wage impossible for state governments.

He proposed that it should either be reviewed downward or workers should be laid off.