A wave of jubilation has swept through Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, following Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s decision to implement the newly approved national minimum wage of ₦70,000. This decision, made in agreement with the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), marks a significant boost for civil servants in the state.
According to Arewa PUNCH, Governor Fintiri’s decision was reached after a three-hour closed-door meeting with the NLC, during which both parties agreed to revise workers’ salaries to reflect the new federal standard.
Comrade Emmanuel Fashe, the chairman of the NLC’s Adamawa State chapter, shared the news with journalists on Monday, confirming that state workers will begin receiving their salaries based on the new minimum wage starting in August. However, he noted that local government workers would see the adjustment reflected in their September paychecks, as the review process by the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission is still ongoing.
Fashe also explained that the 2019 consequential adjustment template would be used to calculate the new wage percentages, with the Accountant General’s office tasked with updating the August payroll accordingly.
This move fulfills a promise Governor Fintiri made during the 2024 May Day celebrations, where he pledged to align with any wage agreement reached between the Federal Government and the NLC.
The announcement sparked celebrations across Yola, with workers taking to the streets in joy after hearing the news on state radio. Governor Fintiri’s prompt action has made him the first among Nigeria’s 36 governors to commit to paying the newly approved minimum wage.
Notably, even before this increase, Governor Fintiri had been paying Adamawa State workers a minimum wage of ₦32,000, surpassing the Federal Government’s previous ₦30,000 standard.
