Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, on Wednesday approved a new minimum wage of ₦75,000 for civil servants in the state. Similarly, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, announced an ₦80,000 minimum wage for public servants.
The decisions were met with applause from labour unions, who praised the governors for their swift action. In Kebbi, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) welcomed the approval following a two-day negotiation between state officials and union leaders.
The new wage in Kebbi will take effect immediately, with payments starting from October. Murtala Usman, Chairman of the NLC in Kebbi, expressed satisfaction, stating that the governor’s decision to opt for the highest proposed amount—₦75,000—demonstrated his commitment to the welfare of workers. “The governor has shown he is truly aligned with the workers,” Usman said, noting that the governor had instructed the prompt processing of payments within 72 hours.
In Akwa Ibom, the state government’s announcement of the ₦80,000 minimum wage was made through a statement by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong. Governor Eno also established an implementation committee, chaired by the state’s Head of Civil Service, Effiong Essien, to ensure a smooth transition to the new wage structure. The committee is expected to submit its report within a month.
The committee includes key government officials and representatives from major labour unions, including the NLC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). According to Ememobong, the committee’s composition underscores the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the wage implementation process.
Dominic Abang, Chairman of the TUC in Akwa Ibom, described the ₦80,000 minimum wage as a “welcome development.” He expressed gratitude to the governor for exceeding the national minimum wage, adding that further discussions would follow the committee’s findings.
While workers in Kebbi and Akwa Ibom are celebrating these increases, civil servants in Sokoto State continue to wait for similar action. Hamisu Hussain, Secretary of the Sokoto State NLC, expressed frustration at the government’s silence on the issue of a new minimum wage. Hussain revealed that the union had written to the government twice without receiving a response and warned that the union would escalate the matter if no action was taken by the end of the week.
