Babatunji Wusu –
– Wage Implementation: Seventeen states have formed committees to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage.
– Federal Payments: The Federal Government has begun paying the new wage to its workers.
– Early Adopters: Adamawa State initiated payments ahead of others, with Anambra set to follow in October.
– Caution from NLC: Concerns raised about the eroded value of the minimum wage due to rising costs and delayed implementation.
– State Readiness: Various states are at different stages of preparation, with some ready to implement while others await further guidance.
Seventeen state governors have established committees to implement the new ₦70,000 minimum wage for workers across Nigeria. The states involved include Ogun, Ekiti, Sokoto, Kebbi, Osun, Enugu, Borno, Zamfara, Kogi, Kwara, Gombe, Kano, Taraba, Delta, Rivers, Jigawa, and Abia. This initiative coincides with the Federal Government’s commencement of payments to its 1.2 million workers, which began last Thursday.
According to the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, civil servants will start receiving the new wage from September. Edo, Lagos, and Adamawa states have already initiated payments, while Anambra has committed to implement the new wage by October. Notably, Adamawa’s Governor Ahmadu Fintiri began payments as early as August, ahead of other states.
Emmanuel Fashe, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Adamawa, confirmed this timely implementation, stating that local government workers in the state began receiving the new wage in September. Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra announced during a meeting with public school officials that his state would start paying the ₦70,000 minimum wage from October 2024, alongside reforms in education, including refunds for school fees.
Despite these developments, an NLC official cautioned against celebration, arguing that the purchasing power of the ₦70,000 wage has been severely eroded by rising costs. The official highlighted concerns over why the new wage implementation was backdated to July instead of May, as mandated by the 2019 Minimum Wage Act.
In Imo State, discussions regarding the new wage implementation are set to begin shortly. Nasarawa State is prepared to follow the Federal Government’s lead, while Ogun State awaits a committee report. Ekiti State has formed a committee, though details are still pending. Ondo State is ready to pay the new wage, with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa emphasizing the need for proper implementation.
Osun State is developing modalities for the wage implementation, having already extended palliatives for workers. Delta and Bayelsa states are still finalizing their plans, with Delta awaiting a minimum wage chart and Bayelsa yet to establish a committee. In Benue, despite promises from Governor Hyacinth Alia, no implementation committee has been formed. Sokoto and Kebbi states are also working on their processes to pay the new wage soon.
Enugu, Zamfara, and Kogi have formed committees for overseeing the new minimum wage rollout, while Kwara has established a committee for consequential adjustments. Gombe State is awaiting a consequential adjustment table from the Federal Government, and in Kaduna, negotiations for the new wage are yet to begin, as confirmed by NLC Chairman Suleiman Ayuba. Kano’s government is waiting for its advisory committee’s report, to be submitted after the Independence Day celebrations. Taraba State has formed a committee led by the State Head of Service to manage the wage implementation.
