The governor of Gombe State Inuwa Yahaya has said that his All Progressive Congress (APC) administration cannot afford to pay the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage.
Mr Inuwa disclosed this during a meeting with stakeholders regarding the planned nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest at the banquet hall of Gombe Government House on Tuesday.
He attributed his inability to pay the minimum wage to the state’s limited financial allocation.
He stated, “I cannot pay the N70,000 minimum wage, and I suspect many other states are in the same predicament.”
The governor commended the Federal Government for its initiative to donate rice to states, while expressing concern over the delay in receiving the supplies in Gombe.
He noted, “We are yet to receive the Federal Government’s 20 trucks of rice intended for Gombe State.”
Despite these challenges, Yahaya stressed the state’s commitment to providing relief to its citizens, citing previous distributions of palliatives and ongoing investments in human capital development, education, health, and agriculture, among other areas.
While speaking on the hunger protests, the governor reiterated the importance of peaceful and orderly conduct. He acknowledged the role of civil society organizations, labor unions, and traders in maintaining social stability and economic resilience, calling for continued cooperation and dialogue to navigate these challenging times.
Presenting a list of demands on behalf of Non-Governmental Organizations, the Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society Organizations, Yusuf Ibrahim, urged the governor to release the inventory of stored palliatives.
