Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido has declared that Nigeria is rich enough to pay any amount as a new national minimum wage.
Lamido said if the Nigerian Government can budget about N17 trillion for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway without passing through the National Assembly, then it can pay any amount as minimum wage.
Organized labour had rejected the N62,000 proposed by the Nigerian Government as minimum wage.
Labour, which initially demanded N494,000, later reduced it’s demand to N250,000.
Amid the ongoing negotiations, state governors had declared that they can’t pay the N62,000 proposed bf the Federal Government.
Reacting, Lamido while appearing on Channels Television, said: “Nigeria is very rich with resources and can overcome any problem and pay any amount we feel is responsible for Nigerians.
“If the government can embark on an N17 trillion project that is not in the budget, not advertised, not tendered for, or did not go through due process, it means that Nigeria got the money.
“How can a government execute a budget of N17 trillion without a budget or passing through the National Assembly, it means the money is there; there is money in Nigeria.
“If they can carry out such a project then they can pay any minimum wage.”