Niger State Governor Umar Mohammed Bago has approved a minimum wage of N80,000 for civil servants at both the state and local government levels.
The announcement came after an extensive discussion between the state government, organized labor, and other stakeholders.
“The N80,000 approved is sustainable, and with our progress in agriculture, we are confident we can increase it further in the future,” Governor Bago said.
He also encouraged civil servants to engage in agricultural production, explaining, “We are establishing civil service farms so that our workforce can be more productive. With this approach, we could eventually achieve a minimum wage of one million naira, but for now, we are starting with N80,000.”
Governor Bago confirmed that the new minimum wage will take effect in November, as the October salaries have already been disbursed.
In response, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulkarim Idris Lafene, said, “The amount is not fully aligned with the current economy, considering the high cost of goods and living expenses.”
He added, “We are hopeful that the minimum wage will eventually reach one million naira, as the governor has indicated.”
Olusola Akintonde
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