Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has approved a new minimum wage of ₦71,000 for civil servants, with implementation set to commence in November 2024.
The governor made this announcement on Tuesday at the Government House during the presentation of the Public Service Negotiation Committee Report by the Head of Civil Service.
Governor Yusuf highlighted that Kano’s large workforce and financial limitations, particularly its low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), were key considerations in the decision to adopt the new minimum wage.
“Kano State has one of the largest workforces in Nigeria, reflective of our population and specific local needs. In light of our financial constraints, including the low internally generated revenue we inherited, we have chosen to implement the new national minimum wage of ₦71,000,” the governor said.
He noted that the new wage would increase the state’s monthly salary obligations by over ₦6 billion, with an additional ₦7 billion required for the 44 local government councils.
“Our administration is committed to prioritising the welfare of our civil servants, who continue to provide efficient, effective, and high-quality services to our people despite limited financial resources,” Yusuf stated, emphasising his administration’s dedication to social justice and economic growth.
Governor Yusuf also expressed concern over the state’s low IGR, inherited from the previous administration. “We inherited an average monthly IGR of only ₦2 billion. By comparison, states like Lagos generate an average of ₦54.3 billion, Rivers ₦14.5 billion, Ogun ₦10.1 billion, and Delta ₦7.1 billion.”
He called for urgent reforms in Kano’s revenue generation strategies to meet the state’s growing obligations.
Addressing civil servants, Yusuf encouraged them to enhance service delivery and pursue innovative solutions to improve public services. “Let’s harness our collective strength to drive transformative change and achieve greatness in service,” he said.
The Head of Civil Service, Abdullahi Musa, commended the committee’s work in ensuring the smooth implementation of the new wage and assured the governor of a seamless process.
Kabiru Inuwa, representing the civil servants, expressed appreciation to the governor for prioritising workers’ welfare. “We thank the governor for approving the minimum wage despite Kano civil servants being the most numerous in the country,” he said.
Governor Yusuf concluded by urging the state’s workforce to intensify their dedication to productivity and efficiency, striving for a brighter future for Kano State.