The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has declared that local councils cannot afford to pay the proposed N62,000 minimum wage due to inadequate funding from the Federation Account.
Speaking to journalists in Lafia, ALGON National President, Alhaji Aminu Muazu-Maifata, explained that all 774 local government councils in Nigeria receive only a little over 18 percent of the monthly allocation from the Federation Account. He argued that these funds are insufficient to meet the proposed wage increase.
Muazu-Maifata highlighted that even if local governments dedicated their entire monthly allocations to salaries, they would still fall short of the required amount. “Apart from payment of wages, we still have other responsibilities such as provision of affordable healthcare, education, security, traditional institutions, rural roads, as well as youth and women empowerment,” he stated.
While expressing support for wage increases for civil servants, Muazu-Maifata emphasized that the current revenue to local governments is inadequate. He appealed for an increase in the monthly allocations to the 774 local government areas to enable them to meet the proposed minimum wage.
The ALGON president also underscored the importance of prioritizing security issues at the local level and attracting interventions from development partners. He called for enhanced unity among LGA chairmen to foster better governance and improve the lives of people at the grassroots.
Additionally, Muazu-Maifata advocated for constitutional amendments to make the tenure of local government officials uniform across the country, suggesting a four-year term to ensure effective administration and fulfillment of campaign promises. He pledged ALGON’s commitment to working with stakeholders to fully implement local council autonomy as outlined in the constitution.
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