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18 States Adopt New Minimum Wage in Nigeria

At least 18 states out of the 36 in the Federation have approved the new salary structure for workers in their states in line with the new minimum wage.

WikkiTimes reports that in July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved N70,000 as the national minimum wage from the N30,000 existing since 2019. The approval followed rising concerns over inflation and the cost of living in the country, with the new wage intended to provide better financial support for Nigerian workers.

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The adoption of the new remuneration for workers varied across states, with some adopting the N70,000, while others went higher minimums with still others delaying their plans, as of October 29, 2024.

Northern States

Niger State had on October 25, 2024, announced that it approved the payment of 80,000 as the minimum wage, with N10,000 above the federal recommendation. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed the approval, positioning Niger as one of the most generous states in the Northern states that have so far made their proclamation.

Kebbi State followed with Governor Nasir Idris announcing a minimum wage of N75,000 on October 23. The state government said the increment was a commitment of the state to worker welfare.

Gombe State: On October 14, Gombe State signed an agreement with labour unions to set the minimum wage at N71,451. The adjustment followed a negotiation between state officials and unions, though only slightly surpassing the national benchmark.

Kogi State: Governor Usman Ododo approved N72,500 as the new minimum wage and announced a one-year tax exemption on the new wage. According to the state government, the tax relief was intended to offset the financial pressures on employees during the transitional period.

On Tuesday, October 29, Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State approved N71,000 as a new minimum wage for state civil servants, effective November.

Jigawa State opted to implement the federal benchmark of N70,000. Governor Umar Namadi confirmed the approval on October 25, aligning with federal expectations without additional increases.

Other northern states that approved the N70,000 minimum wage include Katsina State, Adamawa, and Borno State.

Nigerian Map Showing States that Approved Minimum Wage

Southern States

From Southern states, Lagos State stands out with its promise to pay N85,000, well above the national minimum. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the increase on October 16, noting plans to raise it further to N100,000 by January 2025 to combat the high cost of living in the state.

Rivers State followed Lagos’ lead with an N85,000 minimum wage, announced by Governor Siminalayi Fubara in October. Ogun State had agreed to pay N77,000 as a minimum wage, Ondo State; N73,000, while Anambra, Oyo and Ebonyi States announced a new minimum wage of N70,000, aligning with the federal mandate.

The disparities in state-level minimum wage commitments and the varied timelines across states highlight the differences in the state’s economic strength and political will.

However, despite official approval, some states are yet to announce when the new minimum wage will ring into the pockets of their civil servants, with others yet to implement the N30,000 old minimum wage five years later.

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