Sule said, “We’re concerned about the welfare of the
workers. In fact, we’re paying some special allowances called hazard allowance,
even to our medical workers, as I’m talking to you right now.
“So I don’t think governors have any problem with the
payment of minimum wage. I don’t speak for the governors. Our chairman, the
Governor of Kwara, actually speaks for the governors and he will do that at the
right time to you.
“But it is incorrect, actually, to say that governors are
not interested or are not cooperating. What the governors keep saying is that
there is a committee established by the federal government to work on the
minimum wage.
“We are waiting for the outcome of that committee and that
committee is not just looking at the federal government; it’s looking at the
state government and organized private sector. So by the time they provide, we
don’t want to jump the gun and that’s why we continue to do that.
“You may find one or two states make certain statements,
which is okay perfectly in line. Minimum is minimum, when they say minimum
wage, it doesn’t mean that somebody cannot be higher than that, dependent on
your own cash flow and dependent on your own position. So, I think that’s the
position.”
Regarding security, Sule assured Nigerians that Nasarawa
State is safe for investment and agriculture, citing the construction of major
roads and the establishment of a military super-camp as factors contributing to
improved security in the state.
He also pointed out the state’s achievements in agriculture,
including leading in sesame farming and ranking high in yam, cassava, and rice
production nationwide.
“Coming back to the issue of security that you have
mentioned, it took us a while to be able to stabilize the area..
“We constructed a major road in the area and the federal
government also constructed the major road that comes all the way from Benue
into Nasarawa State, which most of the transporters from the eastern part of
the country are actually using at the moment.
“We also established what you call a military super-camp in
the area so there is presence of the military in the area. So all those
kidnappers, bandits and others have all left, we don’t have any as far as that
area is concerned.
In preparation for the inauguration of a lithium factory in
the state, scheduled for Friday, Sule mentioned that he discussed the event
with Vice-President Shettima, expressing hope that President Bola Tinubu would
attend the ceremony.
He said, “I also came to discuss about the inauguration of
the lithium factory that we’re having on Friday. As you know that this Friday
we’re going to inaugurate a 4,000 metric tons per day lithium processing
factory, which he has always been interested in knowing the outcome of what is
happening.
“So we came to discuss that and part of the preparations. In
fact, we’re hoping Mr President himself will be coming to inaugurate that
factory.”
