Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has said that his administration is fully committed to the implementation of the proposed new minimum wage despite all odds.
The Governor, who made the disclosure during the 2019 budget presentation before the State House of Assembly on Monday, said he would not be bothered by the ripple-effects that the implementation would generate in terms of inflation and cost of governance.
“We see the yearnings or demands for increase in the minimum wage as a genuine source for motivation, improved productivity and general improvement in the living conditions of our civil servants and their families,” he added.
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Mr Lalong further stated that: “We are mindful of the shocks and ripple-effects that the implementation of a new minimum wage would generate in terms of inflation and cost of governance.”
He said the government is also aware that, “some market forces could defeat the good intention behind salary increase,” stressing that, “we are fully committed to its implementation, once the Bill is eventually passed into law.”
He said his administration have made proper provision for the implementation of the new minimum wage.
“To ensure successful implementation and sustenance, we have made some provisions and articulated a contingency plan under the “New Minimum Wage Financing Options,” he stressed.
Mr Lalong said as part of his administration’s plan for sustainable human and infrastructural growth, coupled with the statutory allocations of the state from federation, he intended to upscale the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.
“.. As part of our strategic plans for sustainable Human and Infrastructural Growth, and without prejudice to the anticipated increase in statutory allocations to the State from the Federation Accounts, we intend to upscale our Internally Generated Revenue through levies and rates for social services in accordance with extant laws.
“We shall improve our investments in productive sectors of the economy to increase our earnings, provide some palliative measures for the citizens, as well as fund some of our development programmes,” he added.
