Laleye Dipo in Minna
In a recent announcement, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago declared that the Niger State government will implement a minimum wage of N80,000 starting in November. The announcement came after a meeting with representatives from organized labor in Minna on Friday evening.
During the briefing with reporters, Governor Bago emphasized that the wage would be subject to adjustments based on “existing circumstances.” He expressed confidence in the sustainability of the new wage due to the government’s progress in agriculture. “This is very sustainable. N80,000 is sustainable. We are sure that with our strides in agriculture, we can pay it,” he stated.
The governor also mentioned the establishment of a civil service farm aimed at enhancing productivity among civil servants, suggesting that this could potentially lead to a minimum wage of up to N1 million in the future. “With that, we are sure that we can do both N1 million as minimum wage,” he added.
Bago clarified that the new minimum wage will apply to both state and local government employees, reassuring that salaries for October have already been disbursed, meaning the new wages will take effect in November.
Comrade Idrees Lafene, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Niger State, expressed his enthusiasm about the announcement, stating it exceeded their expectations. “I feel delighted; at least Niger State is among the top-ranking states to implement minimum wage,” Lafene said.
However, he acknowledged that the new minimum wage may not be sufficient given the current high cost of living, noting that N80,000 is not enough to even purchase a bag of rice at this time. “It is not commensurate with a bag of rice, but at least it is a step forward,” he remarked.
It’s worth noting that organized labor had previously refused to accept the October salary until the minimum wage was implemented in the state.
