The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on governors unable to implement the newly mandated ₦70,000 minimum wage to resign from their positions.

Naija News reports that this statement follows recent comments from the Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, who declared that his administration cannot afford to meet the new national minimum wage standard.

“I cannot pay the ₦70,000 minimum wage, and I suspect many other states are in the same predicament,” he said.

Governor Yahaya, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, made these remarks during a meeting with labour leaders, civil society organisations, and traders’ associations at the Government House in Gombe.

According to the Punch, in response to the governor’s comments, NLC’s Head of Public Relations, Benson Upah, stated, “He should quit if he cannot pay. He took an oath of office to uphold the law and not to break it.”

The Trade Union Congress has not yet issued an official statement regarding Governor Yahaya’s position.

Recall that last week, President Bola Tinubu signed the new Minimum Wage Act into law, setting the minimum wage at ₦70,000.

This decision came after nearly two weeks of negotiations with organised labour unions, who initially demanded a minimum wage of over ₦250,000 per month.