Falana: Recovered Loot Can Be Used To Pay Minimum Wage By FG, States

By Fikayo Babalola

Falana says FG and states can use recovered loot can be used to pay minimum wage.

Eko Hot Blog reports that renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has stated that both the federal and state governments have the financial capability to pay the national minimum wage if they recover looted funds.

He spoke in an interview with Channels Television on Friday.

According to Falana, the recovery of stolen assets can provide the necessary resources to meet the wage obligations, ensuring fair compensation for Nigerian workers.

The human rights lawyer emphasized that the funds to pay the national minimum wage are available.

“The state governments that are saying they have no money to pay, the money is there,” he said.

“All they need, including the Federal Government, is to muster the political will to collect and recover money either looted or withheld from the federation account.”

Currently, negotiations between labour unions and the Federal Government are at an impasse, with organised labour rejecting government’s proposal of a N62,000 minimum wage.

At the latest Tripartite Committee meeting on the New Minimum Wage in Abuja, labour unions reduced their demand from N494,000 to N250,000, while the Federal Government increased its offer from N60,000 to N62,000.

However, the proposed minimum wage may face a delay until July 2, as the National Assembly is currently on recess.

On the show, Falana urged the Nigerian government to demonstrate the political will to implement the minimum wage, emphasizing the need for decisive action to address the welfare of workers.

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