Jubilation as Nigerian Gov Approves N75,000 New Minimum Wage
- Benue governor Hyacinth Alia has approved a new minimum wage of N75,000 for workers in the state
- The governor's spokesperson, Tersoo Kula, said the agreement was sealed at a meeting between the state government and labour leaders in Makurdi on Monday, November 18
- Kula stated that the move has finally laid to rest the claims that the governor was planning to implement a new minimum wage of N40,000
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Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has made a significant move to improve the lives of workers in the state by approving a minimum wage of N75,000, exceeding the president's approved sum of N70,000.
In a statement, Tersoo Kula, the governor's chief press secretary, said Alia reached the decision after meeting with members of the organised labour at the State Secretariat in Makurdi on Monday, November 18.
Kula added that the governor has also promised to pay the remaining three months of the five-month backlog of arrears inherited by his administration.
According to him, the payment would be implemented alongside the new minimum wage, starting in November 2024.
Source: Twitter
The governor's aide stated that the initiative is expected to ease the hardships state workers face to make ends meet. He further highlighted that the governor's primary motivation is prioritising workers' welfare.
Why Gov Alia approved N75,000 minimum wage
Kula further said the decision to peg the new minimum wage at N75,000 followed concerns raised by organised labour during negotiations concerning wage awards, transportation allowances, tax relief, and work-off days.
He said by exceeding the president's approved sum, the governor has shown that he is willing to listen to workers' needs and take concrete steps to address them.
Kula described the governor's commitment to paying the arrears and implementing the new minimum wage as "a breath of fresh air for workers in Benue state".
He also said it "demonstrates his (Alia) administration's focus on improving workers' welfare and addressing the state's economic challenges".
Kalu noted that the governor remains committed to serving the common man, adding this decision is a step in the right direction.
The governor's announcement followed earlier claims that the state was planning to pay a minimum wage of N40,000.
States where teachers get N18,000 minimum wage
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) expressed pessimism that the local governments in Nigeria may not be able to pay primary school teachers once the new minimum wage is implemented.
The report indicated that some states, including Nasarawa, Enugu, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, and Kogi, did not implement the new minimum wage when the N18,000 was approved.
Mike Ene, the NUT national president, maintained that some states also did not implement the N30,000 minimum wage for LG teachers.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
