Economy
Ondo governor approves new minimum wage of N73,000
Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has, on October 11, 2024 announced a new minimum wage of seventy-three thousand naira for civil servants in the state.
Governor Aiyedatiwa made the statement on Saturday during APC governorship campaign flag off at Ondo Town Stadium.
A large crowd of party supporters and chieftains had stormed the venue of the campaign to welcome the state governor and APC candidate.
The party chieftains took to the podium to commend Aiyedatiwa’s leadership style and called on all citizens of the state to ensure he returns elected.
Mr. Governor, while addressing supporters, said his administration’s commitment is to timely salary payments and regular promotions remains central.
He, therefore, announced the plan of the state government to pay 73,000 Naira as minimum wage to civil servants.
The governor further stressed on his belief in securing the lives of residents and his commitment to improving the health sector as well as making education affordable in the state.
The APC campaign train is expected to move to other local Government Areas and senatorial districts in the coming days, he said.
FG approves new minimum wage
The Nigerian government had approved a new minimum wage of ₦70,000, which replaces the previous ₦30,000.
This change was made after months of discussion between the government, labour unions, and the private sector.
Initially, labour unions demanded ₦494,000 as the minimum wage but later reduced their request to ₦250,000 after extensive negotiations.
The federal government then proposed ₦62,000 before settling on the recently approved ₦70,000.
Kano State pressurises FG over new minimum wage approval
In a landmark move, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law a new national minimum wage of N70,000 on Monday, July 29, 2024, from the previous N30,000.
The signing follows a series of meetings which resulted in the failure of the organised labour, private sectors and the federal government representatives.
These made up the tripartite committee to reach an agreement on the new minimum wage N70,000.
Some states key into new minimum wage
Some northern governors have expressed readiness to pay the N70,000 new minimum wage.
Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, his Gombe State counterpart, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, and six other northern governors have shown commitment to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage in their states.
The new minimum wage is viewed as a key step in addressing the rising cost of living and improving the welfare of their citizens.
Meanwhile, some state governors have expressed their readiness to pay the new minimum wage.
Others have raised concerns about their inability to pay the new minimum wage due to limited financial resources.
The northern governors who have declared their interest to pay for the new N70,000 minimum wages are .
- Adamawa State:
In August, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri approved a new monthly minimum wage of N70,000 for the state and local government workers.In the same month, the governor commenced the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the federal government. - Benue StateIn July, the governor, Hyacinth Alia, stated that his administration is committed to pay the N70,000 minimum wage to the workers in the state.
- Katsina State:In September, the Katsina State governor, Dikko Radda, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to implementing the new N70,000 minimum wage recently announced by the federal government.
He said this during the public engagement, 2025 citizens’ budget participation process and the launching of the community development programme of the year.
- Kebbi State:
In August, Kebbi State Governor, Nasiru Idris, said that his administration is ready to pay Kebbi workers the N70,000 minimum wage.The governor promised the workers that he would immediately commence implementation of the new minimum wage as soon possible as the template to do so is delivered to the state government.
- Kogi State:
Usman Ododo said In October, the Kogi State governor, he will approve N72,500 minimum wage for civil servants in Kogi state, with immediate effect.The governor of the prominent northcentral state said the new N72,500 minimum wage would enable workers in his state to cope with the current economic situation in the country.
- Gombe State:
In a recent development, the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, expressed his willingness to join the list of state governors prepared to pay the new minimum wage.Yahaya announced that the workers in his state will receive the payment of N70,000 minimum wage beginning in October 2024.
- Kano State:
The governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Tuesday, October 1, assured civil servants on his state he’s readiness to promptly review the recommendations of the committee on the new minimum wage once presented.Governor Yusuf said his administration would not waste time going through the committee’s report when finally received.
The governor said, is necessary to facilitate the urgent implementation of the new national minimum wage.
- Borno State:
The chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Inuwa Yusuf, revealed in an interview that Governor Babagana Zulum has expressed his willingness to pay the new N70,000 minimum wage.Yusuf stated that the governor is committed to adopt the new minimum wage for civil servants in the state.
Irony of statement
Jigawa state were thrown into confusion after the state governor, Umar Namadi, denied approving the N70,000 minimum wage.
The purported approval was said to have been announced on Thursday, October 10, by Ado Kazaure, Namadi’s Senior Special Adviser on salary and pension.
For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook