Niger State has announced a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for state and local government civil servants, effective November 2024. Governor Umaru Bago confirmed the wage increase after extensive discussions with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), marking a significant shift for the state’s public workforce.
Governor Bago emphasized the state’s ability to sustain the new wage, citing a series of agricultural initiatives designed to bolster state revenue and enhance productivity. As part of these efforts, the state plans to establish a civil service farm, a program Bago believes will lead to future wage growth. “We are confident in our ability to pay ₦80,000 sustainably and may consider further increases as agricultural productivity improves,” the governor stated.
The announcement has been met with optimism from state labor representatives. NLC Chairman Idris Lafene praised the increase as a substantial gain for workers, placing Niger State among the leaders in minimum wage reform. “This adjustment is a much-needed step forward, even though ₦80,000 is still below the cost of essentials like a bag of rice,” Lafene noted, acknowledging ongoing challenges due to inflation.
Niger joins other northern states recently adjusting minimum wages to support public sector workers amid inflationary pressures. Gombe State recently set a minimum wage of ₦71,500, Kogi approved ₦72,500, and Kebbi raised it to ₦75,000, signaling a regional trend toward higher pay.
October salaries have already been disbursed, and the ₦80,000 wage will be officially implemented starting in November, making Niger State’s civil servants among the highest-paid in the region.
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