Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has asserted that all states in Nigeria are capable of paying the new minimum wage following the Federal Government’s removal of the fuel subsidy. Falana made this statement in reaction to the strike action declared by labour unions on June 3.
Speaking in an interview with Channels TV on June 4, Falana emphasized that the federal government cannot prevent labour unions from engaging in industrial actions. He pointed out that the removal of the fuel subsidy has generated sufficient funds to support higher wages.
“There is no state in Nigeria today that cannot pay more than the minimum wage because the government removed fuel subsidy last year and President Tinubu told Nigerians that the money made from that policy will be used,” Falana said.
Falana further stated that his law firm, in collaboration with labour unions, will take legal action against any state government or employer that fails to pay the national minimum wage. He stressed that the law must be upheld, including seeking court orders to deduct unpaid wages directly from state funds in Abuja.
“We are going to ensure the law is complied with, including the fact that we will be paying the court to make an order, deducting what belongs to the workers monthly from the source in Abuja. We cannot go like this,” he added.
Falana called on the Attorney General of the Federation to sanction states that do not comply with the current N30,000 minimum wage. He argued that since the payment of the minimum wage is a legally binding agreement, any state government failing to meet this obligation is violating the law.
“Once a new agreement, a new minimum wage becomes the law of the country, the Federal Government has a duty, and the Attorney General of the country has a duty to drag any state government that does not pay to court,” he said.
He highlighted the importance of enforcing the law and mentioned the possibility of filing new cases to address the non-payment of wages by state governments. Falana’s stance underscores the need for accountability and adherence to the legal minimum wage standards across all states in Nigeria.
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