President Bola Tinubu, on the 18th of July 2024, approved a new minimum wage of ₦70,000 for Nigerian workers and announced plans to review the national minimum wage law every three years.
While several states have implemented the federal mandate, some governors have gone beyond the directive, paying amounts higher than ₦70,000 to their workers as part of efforts to improve welfare and address inflationary pressures.
Here is an updated list of states paying above the ₦70,000 minimum wage:
1. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State) – ₦85,000
On October 16, 2024, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced a new minimum wage of ₦85,000 for Lagos State workers, ₦15,000 above the federal minimum. He cited the high cost of living in Lagos as a factor and expressed a goal to raise the minimum to ₦100,000 by January 2025.
2. Governor Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers State) – ₦85,000
On October 18, 2024, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, approved the payment of ₦85,000.00 as the new minimum wage for civil servants employed by the State Government.
3. Peter Mbah (Enugu state) – ₦80,000
Enugu Governor Peter Mbah has approved ₦80,000 as the minimum wage for workers with immediate effect.
Mbah announced this at the Government House after receiving the report of the committee set up to look into the minimum wage issues.
“Today, I’m happy to announce a new minimum wage for workers in Enugu state, reflecting our fidelity to their welfare in regard of which we’ve been resolutely committed.
“We’ve approved the sum of 80,000 Naira to take immediate effect as the new minimum wage in Enugu State,” he said.
4. Governor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State) – ₦80,000
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, on Wednesday announced a new minimum wage package of ₦80,000 for public civil servants in the state.
Eno also constituted an Implementation committee with a mandate to deliver its report within one month.
A statement signed by the commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong on Wednesday, said the committee is chaired by the Head of the Civil Service, Effiong Essien.
Ememobong said: “Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, has announced that the State Government will pay a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for all state government employees.”
5. Governor Mohammed Bago (Niger state) – ₦80,000
Niger Governor Mohammed Bago has approved ₦80,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the State.
The minimum wage, however, would take effect from November, 2024.
Disclosing this to newsmen after an extensive meeting between the State Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), the Governor said that the State would be able to sustain ₦80,000 minimum wage for its workers.
6. Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta state) – ₦77,500
The Delta state government officially announced that it would start paying a minimum wage of ₦77,500 to its workers from the end of this month.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, announced this at a meeting of the committee of the new minimum wage with the leadership of the state’s organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC).
7. Governor Dapo Abiodun (Ogun State) – ₦77,000
Governor Dapo Abiodun approved a minimum wage of ₦77,000 on October 15, 2024, according to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi.
8. Governor Nasir Idris (Kebbi State) – ₦75,000
Governor Nasir Idris on Wednesday, October 23 approved 75,000 naira as a new minimum wage for the state civil servants.
Confirming the development, the chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress in the state, Murtala Usman, stated this while speaking with our correspondents.
9. Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo State) – ₦73,000
On October 12, 2024, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced a minimum wage increase to ₦73,000 for state workers during his campaign kickoff ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
10. Ahmed Ododo (Kogi State) – ₦72,500
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, approved ₦72,500 minimum wage for civil servants in the state with immediate effect. The governor also suspended the tax burden on the approved sum for one year.
11. Muhammad Yahaya (Gombe State) – ₦71,500
Gombe State governor, Muhammad Yahaya signed an agreement with the Nigeria Labour Congress to pay ₦71,500 as the new minimum wage on October 15, 2024.
12. Douye Diri (Bayelsa State) – ₦80,000
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, on Saturday, October 26 approved ₦80,000 as the new minimum wage for state civil servants, effective from November 1, 2024.
Diri also approved an increase in the monthly pension for retirees, as well as a payment of ₦70 billion for gratuities to reduce outstanding liabilities.
The Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, disclosed this in a statement released in Yenagoa, noting that Diri acknowledged the challenging times workers face in the state due to the rising cost of living.
13. Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi State) – ₦75,000
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru on Sunday, October 27 approved the payment of ₦75,000 minimum wage to civil servants in the state.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Monday Uzor, in Abakaliki on Sunday.
Nwifuru said that implementation of the new minimum wage would commence on Monday.
The governor said the decision followed a careful review of the current economic situation in the country, especially as it affects the workers.
14. Abba Yusuf (Kano State)
Kano Governor Abba Yusuf, on Tuesday, October 29 approved ₦71,000 as the new minimum wage for civil servants in the state.
In a statement on his X page, the governor said the new minimum wage will be effective in November.
15. Uba Sani (Kaduna State) – ₦72,000
Governor Uba Sani on Thursday, October 31, approved a new minimum wage of ₦72,000 for Kaduna State civil servants effective November 2024.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Musa, the decision is in line with his administration’s commitment to the advancement of the interests of workers and improvement in the living conditions of the poor, vulnerable and underserved in Kaduna State.
16. Seyi Makinde (Oyo State) – ₦80,000
Governor Seyi Makind on Wednesday, November 7, approved a minimum wage of ₦80,000 for Oyo state workforce.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, in Ibadan, the state capital, the technical committee set up by the government recommended and got approval from Governor Seyi Makinde for the implementation of the new salary scale.
He said, “This new scale will be implemented as soon as the consequential adjustments process is completed by the committee which comprises of government and labour top officials.”
17. Ademola Adeleke (Osun State) – ₦75,000
Governor Ademola Adeleke on Wednesday, November 20, approved ₦75,000 as the new minimum wage for civil servants in Osun state.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that Adeleke acted on the Public Service Negotiation Committee’s report.
18. Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa State)
Nasarawa state governor, Abdullahi Sule, on Wednesday, December 4, confirmed that his administration is already paying ₦70,500 as the new national minimum wage to civil servants in the state.
Governor Sule made the clarification while appearing as a guest on Arise TV on Wednesday night.
The governor clarified that the demand from the state’s organized labour is not for the minimum wage but for a consequential adjustment, which the state government currently lacks the resources to fulfill.
He also dismissed claims that his administration has failed to implement the new wage, emphasising that the N70,500 payment is already being carried out.