Niger State Sets New Minimum Wage at N80,000, Aiming for N1 Million in Future
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago revealed that the state is implementing a minimum wage of N80,000 for its civil servants, with an ambitious goal of reaching N1 million in the future. The governor shared this development during a press briefing at the Government House on Friday, following a comprehensive meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.
Governor Bago expressed confidence that the N80,000 minimum wage is sustainable, citing the state’s agricultural advancements as a supporting factor for this initiative. He mentioned plans to establish a civil service farm, aimed at increasing productivity among civil servants. “With this approach, we are optimistic about our capacity to eventually set N1 million as the minimum wage,” Bago stated.
He confirmed that this new wage structure will be applicable to both state and local government employees, emphasizing that the state has already disbursed salaries for October. The revised minimum wage is set to take effect in November.
Idrees Lafene, the chairman of the NLC in Niger State, expressed his enthusiasm over the announcement, indicating that the governor had surpassed expectations. However, he noted that while the N80,000 may not sufficiently address the rising cost of living—pointing out that it is now insufficient to purchase a single bag of rice—it still marks a positive step forward for civil servants. “While it may not stretch far in today’s economic climate, we see it as progress,” he remarked.
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