States set to meet minimum wage deadline as salaries of  GL 17 increased by N180,00 in Oyo

Organized labour in four states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has expressed confidence that state governments will begin implementing the newly approved minimum wage by the end of January.

This follows the announcement by the Oyo State Government that it has started paying a minimum wage of N80,000 to its workers.

Imo, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom, and the FCT are among the states expected to roll out the new wage structure by the end of the month. However, workers in states such as Ebonyi and Cross River remain uncertain about when their governments will commence the payment.

Some states, including Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Ogun, and Kogi, began disbursing the new wage in 2024, while others have deferred payments to 2025.

READ ALSO :FG reveals when full implementation of new minimum wage will begin nationwide

In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved a minimum wage of N70,000 for workers, including civil servants, with a promise to review it every three years. However, plans by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on a strike in December 2024 over delayed implementation in certain states fell apart after some NLC state chapters pulled out.

Oyo, Imo, Sokoto, Katsina, and Akwa Ibom distanced themselves from the strike, while Kaduna, Nasarawa, Zamfara, and the FCT confirmed their participation.

To address growing concerns about payment delays, Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Dingyadi assured in December 2024 that many states and the FCT would implement the new wage structure by January 2025. Dingyadi emphasized that his ministry was assessing compliance levels across states.

Labour Optimistic in Some States
Labour leaders in Imo and Sokoto states have expressed hope that their respective governments will fulfill their commitments to the new minimum wage.

In Imo State, NLC Chairman Uche Nwigwe said workers are looking forward to the payment despite rising costs of goods and services.
“We know that prices of goods have gone high, but we’re looking forward to it. Let us collect it first, and then we will know the reaction of Imo workers as it concerns the next line of action,” Nwigwe said.

Similarly, Hamisu Hussaini, Secretary of the NLC in Sokoto, expressed confidence in the state government’s commitment to begin payment by January.
“Based on our discussion with the state government, the new minimum wage will commence this month. To ensure smooth implementation, the state government has started verifying its workforce,” Hussaini explained.

In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno announced that a new minimum wage of N80,000 would be paid to the state’s 45,985 verified public servants from November 1, 2024. Dominic Abang, the state TUC chairman, said workers were eagerly awaiting the payment to mitigate the impact of inflation.

“We’re hopeful that the payment will provide much-needed relief for workers amid rising costs of living,” Abang said.

Meanwhile, in the FCT, Kabir Abdullahi, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, noted that area councils were still awaiting allocations from the Federal Government.
“We’re hoping salaries will come with arrears as per the agreement. Once payments start, we’ll know the status of the funds,” Abdullahi stated.

Meanwhile, Oyo State Government has taken a significant step by commencing payments of the N80,000 minimum wage. According to Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, N12 billion was disbursed on Friday, fulfilling Governor Seyi Makinde’s promise to implement the new wage from January 1, 2025.

“One implication of the new wage is that workers on Grade Levels one to six now enjoy a minimum of N50,000 increment, while salaries of those on Grade Level 17 have increased by over N180,000,” Oyelade said.

(PUNCH)