Niger State Approves ₦80,000 Minimum Wage For Civil Servants
By Trek Africa Newspaper
Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has approved a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for civil servants, set to be implemented in November 2024.
This decision follows extensive negotiations between the state government and the Niger State Labour Union, with Governor Bago emphasizing the sustainability of the wage increase through the government’s agricultural investments.
Trek Africa Newspaper reports that he expressed confidence that the focus on agricultural productivity, including the establishment of a civil service farm, would support the higher wage, even hinting at a potential future wage floor of ₦1 million.
The new minimum wage will apply to both state and local government employees, with October’s salaries already disbursed ahead of the November increase.
The Niger State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Idris Lafene, praised the government’s commitment, noting that the ₦80,000 wage surpasses initial union expectations, though he acknowledged it still falls short of covering basic living costs.
“N80,000 is not enough to buy a bag of rice, but it’s a step forward,” Lafene commented, recognizing the wage boost as a positive development.
