List of States Leading the Way, Paying Above ₦70,000 Minimum Wage

Several Nigerian states have chosen to surpass the Federal Government’s approved minimum wage of ₦70,000 for workers, seeking to provide more financial support for their workforce.

In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu sanctioned a new minimum wage of ₦70,000 for civil servants nationwide, with a commitment to review the figure every three years. Following this directive, some states have not only implemented the approved wage but have also gone beyond it, setting higher minimum wage thresholds.

Here is a list of states currently paying above the federal minimum wage:

• Lagos State: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved a minimum wage of ₦85,000 for workers. He also announced plans to raise it further to ₦100,000 by January 2025, reflecting the state’s commitment to worker welfare and cost-of-living adjustments.
• Ogun State: Governor Dapo Abiodun introduced a new minimum wage of ₦77,000 following discussions with labour leaders. This decision aims to improve the quality of life for Ogun State’s workforce.
• Ondo State: Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa set a new minimum wage at ₦73,000 for state workers. He emphasized that this move was part of the state’s broader effort to prioritize worker welfare and go beyond the federal benchmark.
• Kogi State: Governor Ahmed Ododo approved a minimum wage of ₦72,500, with an additional measure suspending tax deductions on this new wage for one year to ease financial burdens on employees.
• Gombe State: The state government signed a historic agreement with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to implement a ₦71,500 minimum wage. Labour leaders commended the move as a significant step toward improving the compensation for civil servants.

While these states have taken the lead in paying above the federal minimum wage, others are moving to implement the approved ₦70,000 wage. States like Delta, Adamawa, Edo, Borno, Ekiti, Cross River, and Ebonyi have already commenced payment.

Meanwhile, states such as Bauchi, Oyo, Enugu, and Sokoto are in the process of establishing implementation committees to ensure compliance with the new wage law.

However, some states, including Jigawa, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa, have yet to signal readiness to implement the federal minimum wage adjustment.