Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has approved N77, 000 as the minimum wage for the lowest worker in the state, with the payment taking immediate effect.
Similarly, the Gombe State government has approved the payment of N71,500 to the lowest cadre of civil servants in the state effective this month of October.
Mr Yusuf Aish-Bello, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Gombe State chapter, stated this shortly after signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on the new National Minimum Wage,
In a statement yesterday (Monday, October 14) Chief Press Secretary Governor Abiodun, Lekan Adeniran, said the decision to pay N77,000 minimum wage was disclosed after a meeting of the state government led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tokunbo Talabi, and the leadership of the organised labour in the state.
According to the statement, organised labour at the meeting comprised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC).
Talabi said that the meeting was at the instance of the governor, who he said had directed that no worker in the state should earn less than N77,000, starting from October.
The SSG stated that the governor meant well for the people of the state and had proactively taken steps to further ameliorate the suffering of the people.
He added that the governor had also advised the organised private sector to take a cue from the policy, as their workers were not exempted from the economic realities in the country.
The SSG noted that the governor had therefore advised that the private sector should dialogue with their relevant stakeholders to arrive at a commensurate minimum wage for the sector.
“The governor promised to set up a monitoring team to see how it is implemented by the private sector to ensure no one is short-changed,” he said.
On his part, the state NLC Chairman, Hameed Benco, said the organised labour in the state was pleased with the governor having approved the N77,000 in consultation with union leaders.
Benco stated that the minimum wage remained the highest in the country today, adding that the other sectorial salaries would be affected accordingly.
He also mentioned that the government had graciously approved the submission of labour that the new basic salary should not be taxed.
Gombe government approves N71,500 minimum wage
The agreement by Gombe to pay N71,500 was sealed between the organised labour and the state government yesterday, Monday, October 14, in Gombe, the State capital.
Aish-Bello said that a worker on GL01/1, would be receiving N71,551 minimum pay in the state.
“Today, we have reached an agreement on what will be paid to civil servants in the state.
“It has been agreed that the minimum standard of paying in Gombe State will be N71,551.15 that is for Grade Level 1 step 1
“You know the salary structure has its own intricacies, the N18,000 and N30,000 is nothing to write home about.
“Most especially on the issue of basics that was our focus as it form what you get when you retire.
“The highest quantum will be on the basic for our civil servants, especially for those retiring and we have achieved over 60 per cent.
“Level one will have a basic of N42,000 and this descends in consequential adjustment on the basic. The more it’s going up, the amount comes down by consequential adjustment.
“What is left now is 40 per cent which is spread on the allowances there as minimum wage that was how we arrived at N71,551,“ he said.
On non-payment of arrears, he said the state government implemented N10,000 palliative to the workers since September 2023, adding that the labour unions considered the gesture.
Earlier, the state Deputy Governor, Mr Manassah Jatau, who is the Chairman of the Gombe State Minimum Wage Committee said the government had sealed agreement with labour union leaders.
Jatau said the new minimum wage would be paid in October, adding the state government was committed to the welfare of its workers.
