The Bayelsa State Government has officially approved a minimum wage of ₦80,000 for local government staff, following sustained pressure from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The government further assured workers that any outstanding pay differentials from November’s payment would be added to their December salaries.
This development was announced by the state’s Acting Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, during a meeting at the Government House in Yenagoa on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including local government chairpersons, representatives from the NLC, TUC, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, among others.
Ewhrudjakpo urged labour unions to submit their own computation of consequential adjustments for harmonisation with the state government’s figures.
This, he said, would facilitate the payment of any differentials alongside the December salaries.
He also clarified that the decision to pay the new minimum wage to local government workers was a joint agreement involving local government chairpersons and other stakeholders.
On the issue of pensioners’ remuneration, the acting governor revealed that the government had already approved a flat increase of ₦10,000 for all pensioners.
He added that the federal government’s recent circular regarding pension increases was still under review for possible adoption.
However, he explained that Bayelsa could not fully adopt the federal government’s template for the new minimum wage adjustment due to its financial constraints. Unlike the federal government, state and local governments lack access to “ways and means” financing.
Ewhrudjakpo appealed for patience and understanding, highlighting that the state’s resources are not solely for the salaries of civil servants and politicians.
He noted that only about 15% of the state’s income goes toward salaries, while the majority is used for social services like healthcare, education, security, roads, and other infrastructure.
In his words, “Firstly, we have agreed that the minimum wage for the local governments should also be ₦80,000. Now the difference is the consequential adjustment which we think that we cannot use the Federal Government’s consequential adjustment because the Federal Government’s rates are higher.
“Secondly, the Federal Government has ways and means, but both state and local governments do not have such powers. So, as we go for the consequential adjustment, we will look at what we can carry, and I need all of us to put the survival of Bayelsa State and our councils at the back of our minds as we negotiate.
“We should not fail to understand that the resources that come to the state or local government are not meant for those of us who are politicians and civil servants. The truth is that we constitute only about 15 per cent of those who earn income as salaries.
“The majority of our people earn social services such as health facilities, education, security, roads, bridges and other amenities that are also being provided from those same resources. So, I really want to appeal to labour to show understanding.”
Ewhrudjakpo further emphasised that both the state and local government must strike a balance between wage increases and the provision of essential services for the larger population.
Speaking on behalf of organised labour, the state NLC chairman, Comrade Simon Barnabas, commended the government for approving the ₦80,000 minimum wage.
However, he urged the government to align with the federal government’s template for consequential adjustments.
Barnabas also called on the government to approve the ₦32,000 pension increase stipulated in the federal government’s recent circular, stressing the need for uniformity in pension adjustments.