Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has revealed that his state cannot afford to pay the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage.

The governor, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), made this statement during a meeting with stakeholders on the planned nationwide #Endbadgovernance protest at the banquet hall of Gombe Government House on Tuesday.

Yahaya attributed his inability to pay the minimum wage to the lean allocation to the state.

He said, “I cannot pay the N70,000 minimum wage, and I suspect many other states are in the same predicament.” This statement comes after President Bola Tinubu recently assented to the minimum wage following an agreement with joint labour unions.

However, the governor commended the Federal Government for its initiative to donate rice to states, expressing concern over the delay in receiving the supplies in Gombe. He stated, “We are yet to receive the Federal Government’s 20 trucks of rice to Gombe State.”

Despite the challenges, Yahaya emphasized the state’s commitment to providing relief to its citizens, citing previous palliative distributions and ongoing investments in human capital development, education, health, and agriculture, among others.

The governor also addressed the planned protest, reiterating the importance of peaceful and orderly conduct. He acknowledged the role of civil society organisations, labour 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 Organisations, the Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society Organisations, Yusuf Ibrahim, urged the governor to release the list of stocked palliatives.