The Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, says a review of the revenue sharing formula is still the position of the governors to enable them implement the new National Minimum Wage without hitches.
Fayemi made this position known when he fielded questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.
He stated that the agitation for the review of the revenue sharing formula by the Governors’ forum dated right from the administration of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“We feel that it’s time for the revenue sharing formula to change and we have made a representation to the President and Commander-in-Chief not just under the Buhari’s administration.
“This has been an ongoing agitation that started way back since the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo it continued on the President Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan.
“So, it’s not just something that has been brought out under President Buhari,” he said.
The governor revealed that already the forum had presented its position on the proposed review of the revenue sharing formula to Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission for possible consideration.
He said: “You also know that there is a process to this. The process is that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, which has the responsibility for this would do its own due diligence, consult widely with critical stakeholders.
“We have also made available our own representation to RMAFC.
“Every state has a representative at RMAFC as you know and only last week, RMAFC held a retreat on this and other matters and I believe they will communicate the position
“Now that we have a full fledged RMAFC in place with a Chairman and other members appointed, it is our expectation that this would be taken up by RMAFC with Mr President in a manner that we have taken it up.
“Whether that would affect negotiation for the minimum wage, I can tell you no. Minimum wage is a law.
“But as I have always said to you, a national minimum wage act is not a general minimum wage review. They are two separate things.”
Fayemi, however, maintained that governors were committed to the minimum wage act, promising that no state would pay anything less than the approved N30, 000.
The governor, however, stated that the consequential adjustment may not necessarily end up being the same among the States.
By The Eagle Online
