Minimum Wage: Oyo Pays ₦80,000 as States scramble to beat deadline
Organized Labour in four states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has expressed optimism that state governments will begin implementing the new minimum wage by the end of January.
This comes after the Oyo State Government announced the commencement of its new minimum wage payment, set at ₦80,000 for workers.
While the governments of Imo, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom, and the FCT have committed to implementing salary increases by January’s end, workers in states like Ebonyi and Cross River remain uncertain about when their governments will begin payment.
Some states, including Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Ogun, and Kogi, had already started paying the new wage in 2024, while others plan to implement it in 2025.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved a ₦70,000 minimum wage for civil servants, pledging to review it every three years.
A planned nationwide strike by Labour unions in December 2024 to protest the delay in payments failed after some state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) withdrew at the last minute. States like Oyo, Imo, Sokoto, Katsina, and Akwa Ibom opted out of the strike, while Kaduna, Nasarawa, Zamfara, and the FCT participated.
To address concerns over delayed implementation, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, assured in December 2024 that many states and the FCT Administration would begin paying the new minimum wage by January 2025. During a courtesy visit by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Dingyadi urged patience, noting that his ministry was monitoring compliance levels across states.
State Updates
Imo State:
The Imo NLC Chairman, Uche Nwigwe, expressed hope that the government would deliver on its promise to pay the new wage, given the rising cost of living. He said, “We know prices of goods are high, but we’re looking forward to receiving the payment. Let us collect it first and then decide on the next line of action.”
Sokoto State:
The NLC Secretary in Sokoto, Hamisu Hussaini, confirmed that the state government had agreed to begin paying the ₦70,000 minimum wage this month. He added that ongoing workforce verification would not delay the implementation, as the union and the government had resolved potential issues.
Akwa Ibom State:
The Akwa Ibom Government announced plans to start paying ₦80,000 as a minimum wage to its 45,985 verified public servants in January. Governor Umo Eno authorized the payment retroactively from November 1, 2024. TUC Chairman Dominic Abang noted that workers were eagerly anticipating the raise to mitigate inflationary pressures.
FCT:
The FCT chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) expressed hope that payments would begin soon. The union’s chairman, Kabir Abdullahi, emphasized the importance of paying arrears alongside salaries, pending confirmation of federal allocations by the area councils.
Oyo State’s Leadership
Oyo State set an example by depositing ₦12 billion into workers’ accounts on January 1, 2025. Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, stated that workers on Grade Levels 1 to 6 received an increase of ₦50,000, while those on Grade Level 17 saw their salaries rise by over ₦180,000.
Labour’s Call for Action
NLC National Treasurer, Hakeem Ambali, called on state governors to honor their obligation to pay the new minimum wage, including arrears. He stressed that the wage adjustment was a legal mandate and essential for industrial harmony.
Ambali further urged the Federal Government to consider another wage adjustment and additional economic interventions, as the current structure has failed to provide adequate relief for Nigerian workers.
TUC National Deputy President, Tommy Etim-Okon, warned that any governor failing to implement the minimum wage risks alienating their administration. He highlighted that salary payment is a right, not a privilege, and emphasized the importance of consequential adjustments to ensure fair pay across grade levels.
