Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has denied announcing a new minimum wage of N70,000 for workers, contrary to widely circulated reports. According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, on Thursday, the governor was erroneously quoted.
The Lagos State Government has clarified that it has not increased the minimum wage, despite reports suggesting otherwise. The misunderstanding arose from the unveiling of Eko Cares, a program aimed at protecting the poor from the effects of economic hardship. Governor Sanwo-Olu was quoted out of context, and his statement was misinterpreted.
In reality, the governor stated that since January, civil servants have been earning the N35,000 wage award directed by the Federal Government. He explained that those who were previously earning N35,000 now earn N70,000 due to the wage allowance. However, he did not announce a new minimum wage of N70,000.
The governor emphasized that a new minimum wage will be approved soon by the Federal Government and the state government. He reiterated that the current administration has not left its citizens behind, doubling up efforts to support them. The government has been paying a minimum wage allowance of N35,000 since January, resulting in significant increases for public officers.
In summary, the Lagos State Government has not introduced a new minimum wage of N70,000, and Governor Sanwo-Olu’s statement was taken out of context. The government remains committed to supporting its citizens and will announce a new minimum wage in due course.
