R
Richard Ogunsile
Guest
Governor Umaru Bago’s government has approved the sum of ₦80,000 as a new minimum wage for civil servants in Niger State.
In a statement issued on Friday, Bago noted that the implementation of the new minimum wage will commence in November 2024.
Naija News reports that this announcement comes after a series of negotiations between the state government and the leadership of the state’s labour union.
Governor Bago reassured employees that the government’s investment in farming would back the long-term viability of the new wage floor.
He conveyed optimism that the government might raise the wage floor more by boosting agriculture 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 N1 million.”
Naija News understands that the new minimum wage will be implemented for employees of both state and local governments.
Governor Bago has also assured that the October paychecks have been handed out, indicating that the raised salaries will officially start in November.
In support of the move, Idris Lafene, the chairman of the Niger State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), commended the action.
“I am delighted. Niger State is now among the leading states in implementing an improved minimum wage,” Lafene said, adding that the N80,000 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. “N80,000 is not enough to buy a bag of rice in the market, but it is a step forward,” he stated.
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