The Niger State government has approved a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for civil servants, effective from November 2024.
Governor Umaru Bago announced this following extensive negotiations between the state government and the Labour Union leadership.
Governor Bago assured workers that investments in agricultural development would help sustain the new minimum wage and expressed optimism about the potential for future increases through enhanced agricultural productivity.
“This is very sustainable. ₦80,000 is sustainable,” Bago emphasized. “With our agricultural strides, we are sure we can pay. We are creating a civil service farm to encourage productivity among civil servants. With this initiative, we could even consider a minimum wage of ₦1 million.”
The new wage increase will apply to both state and local government civil servants. Governor Bago also confirmed that the October salaries have already been disbursed, meaning the increased wages will officially begin in November.
Expressing his approval, Idris Lafene, the Niger State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), praised the decision. “I am delighted. Niger State is now among the leading states in implementing an improved minimum wage,” Lafene said, adding that the ₦80,000 increase exceeded the union’s expectations.
While the new wage is a positive development, Lafene acknowledged that it is still not sufficient to cover current living costs. “₦80,000 is not enough to buy a bag of rice in the market, but it is a step forward,” he stated.
In addition to Niger State, other northern states have also recently increased their minimum wages. On October 15, 2024, Gombe State Governor Muhammad Yahaya signed to pay ₦71,500 as the new minimum wage. Kogi Governor Usman Ododo approved a ₦72,500 minimum wage for civil servants in the state with immediate effect. Furthermore, Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris approved ₦75,000 as the new minimum wage for state civil servants on October 23, 2024.