Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, asserted that Nigeria has sufficient resources to pay any amount as a new national minimum wage.
Lamido pointed out that if the Nigerian Government can allocate approximately N17 trillion for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway without consulting the National Assembly, it is capable of paying any minimum wage.
The organized labor rejected the N62,000 proposed by the Nigerian Government as a minimum wage, having initially demanded N494,000 before reducing it to N250,000.
During ongoing negotiations, state governors stated that they could not afford to pay the N62,000 proposed by the Federal Government.
In response, Lamido remarked on Channels Television: “Nigeria is abundant in resources and can address any problem and pay any amount deemed reasonable for Nigerians.
“If the government can undertake a N17 trillion project that is not in the budget, not advertised, not tendered, or did not follow due process, it indicates that Nigeria has the funds.
“How can a government execute a N17 trillion project without it being in the budget or going through the National Assembly? It means the money exists; there is money in Nigeria.
“If they can execute such a project, then they can pay any minimum wage.”