By Suleman Ahmad Tudu
The recent implementation of the 70,000 minimum wage (MW) in Zamfara state by Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration has sparked some mixed reactions from the public, both positive and negative as expected of any action by the government. However, those dissent expressions on issues of governance are part of what characterizes a free and healthy democratic society that any responsible government should uphold.
I however observed the spectrum of commentators about the recent development broadly falls under five key groups. The first one is the lower and some middle-level cadres of the government employees who constitute a substantial number of the state’s civil servants, representing about 60% of 27,945 total number of the state’s workforce (ZSBS, 2024). To this category, I say congratulations as you smile to the banks with about 133% increments in your monthly take-home.
The second category comprises ‘aggrieved’ senior civil servants whose higher salary expectations have yet to be met. Although they are comparatively fewer compared to the first group, I sincerely sympathise with their plights that finds its roots from the past APC-led administrations that failed to neither implement any MW, nor promotions, causing serious wage irregularities and stagnation among the state’s civil servants while their ranks swell. My appeal to this group is to kindly give this responsible administration the benefit of the doubt as it commits to ensuring fair salary adjustments across the board.
The third group consists of political opportunists that consider even a kitchen knife as a murder weapon, scouting and capitalizing on every ‘opportunity’ for cheap political gains. They join forces with a handful of egocentric sadists from other spheres who appreciate no kind gesture unless they are the direct beneficiaries. May God heals these envious and dangerous individuals. Meanwhile, I advise the unsuspecting members of the public to be wary of their antics and not fall prey to their malicious and spoiler campaign of calumny.
The next category comprises a neutral block of patriotic and altruistic citizens who objectively see issues through the prism of development. They commend and scold according to their conscience. I guarantee this category of progressive people that Governor Dauda Lawal will not disappoint you as he is working round the clock with utmost sincerity to rescue and rebuild the broken system he inherited.
The last category is the organized labour who seems to be in a dilemma to either look back at the chronicle of minimum wage implementation in the state and appreciate this saviour Governor, or succumb to the pressure from some of their ‘aggrieved’ members (who joined forces with opposition elements) to either remain silent if they cannot appreciate at best, or denigrate the development at worse. Unfortunately, they inconsiderately go for the latter. However, I would leave them to the ‘court of public jurisdiction’—the people—to judge them before posterity delivers its verdict.
The most shameless among those criticizing the recent development are the supporters of a former APC Governor who recklessly governed the state for eight years and weaponized poverty by impoverishing civil servants. He treated them like beneficiaries of one ‘poverty alleviation program,’ thereby throwing peanuts at them ungraciously. He also refused to implement the then 18,000 MW, despite inviting ‘God and his angels’ to be his witness during campaigns that if elected, he will not only implement, but will increase the MW to 20,000, a fake promise triggered by ‘mi yacci biyun?’ remark from his then political Godfather.
Another audacious critics are the loyalists of yet another, even worse, former APC Governor who not only failed to implement any MW throughout his first and final term in office, but also ran away with 3 months salary of the entire state employees while leaving a virtually empty treasury.
Ironically, the now ‘courageous’ organized labour in the state was mute then, having been bullied into silence through the apparatus of ‘no-work-no-pay’ and other intimidations whenever they awkwardly mull issuing notice for any industrial action.
Thankfully today, Governor Dauda Lawal has achieved in less than two years what these former governors had only dreamt of. A laudable achievement that some naysayers are trying to dismiss with a wave of hands out of mere envy and malice. Insha Allah, the rescue administration will not disappoint anyone except those who lack patience to wait for great things—that usually takes time—to materialise. I am confident that all genuine issues concerning the implementation of the MW will be looked into and be amicably addressed in due course. Just trust the process.
Tudu is a Senior Special Assistant on Media, Office of the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, writes from Gusau.
sulemantudu22@gmail.com
