Workers Lament Hardship as Seven States Delay Approval

At least seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have failed to approve the new N70,000 minimum wage that was set to take effect in October 2024, leaving many civil servants across the country in limbo.

While 25 states have already either begun paying or made pronouncements regarding the new wage, workers in these states face continued hardship as inflation and rising fuel costs chip away at their earnings.

The states yet to approve or implement the new minimum wage include Zamfara, Sokoto, Osun, Cross River, Imo, Plateau, Taraba, and the FCT.

Among them, Zamfara has made the least progress, as the state just began paying the old N30,000 wage in June 2024—five years after the federal government introduced it in 2019.

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Governor Dauda Lawal has not provided any timeline for the N70,000 increase.

Similarly, Sokoto State has not yet started paying the new wage, despite earlier assurances by Governor Ahmed Aliyu that his administration would be one of the first to implement it.

In Osun, although Governor Ademola Adeleke promised to pay the new wage, the state has not yet approved an amount or begun the process of payment.

Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman in Osun, Bimbo Fasasi, told Saturday PUNCH that the state was finalizing the implementation, with negotiations between labour and the government nearing completion.

Fasasi expressed confidence that a formal announcement and the commencement of payment would follow shortly.

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, had announced an increase to N40,000 for civil servants in May 2024, which was less than the N70,000 national benchmark. Labour leaders in the state are still negotiating with the government for the full N70,000 implementation.

In Imo State, though Governor Hope Uzodimma has expressed his commitment to the new wage, there has been no agreement yet on payment.

The Vice Chairman of TUC in Imo, Charles Amaru, indicated that discussions were ongoing, but no formal decision has been reached.

Plateau and Taraba states are also yet to announce or commence payment of the new wage, leaving workers in these areas anxious.

The FCT has remained silent on the issue, despite the capital’s central role in the nation’s economy.

The delays in implementing the new minimum wage have led to growing frustration among workers, who argue that the N70,000 is no longer sufficient to cover the rising cost of living.

A civil servant in Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The wage was agreed upon before the latest fuel and electricity hikes, and now it’s no longer enough to survive on. The standard of living in Abuja is high, and N70,000 cannot cover basic needs.”

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A worker from Osun State echoed similar concerns, lamenting that the N70,000 is inadequate to meet even the basic needs of a family for a month. “With the way things are going, this money barely lasts two weeks,” he said.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed disappointment with the government, particularly President Bola Tinubu, after his administration reneged on a promise not to increase fuel prices after agreeing to the N70,000 minimum wage.

NLC President Joe Ajaero criticized the president for betraying the unions, stating that the fuel price hikes have eroded any potential benefits workers could have gained from the wage increase.