Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has announced an ambitious goal to raise the minimum wage for state civil servants to ₦1 million in the future. Governor Bago shared this vision on Friday at the Government House, where he unveiled a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for the state’s workforce.
Following an extensive meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Niger State, Bago emphasized that the new ₦80,000 minimum wage is sustainable. He attributed this to the state’s efforts to boost productivity, especially in agriculture. The governor outlined plans to establish a civil service farm, allowing civil servants to actively contribute to agricultural output, which he believes will help sustain even higher wages.
“This ₦80,000 is sustainable. We are confident that with our strides in agriculture, we can afford to pay. By creating a civil service farm, civil servants can be productive, and with this initiative, we are certain we can eventually reach a ₦1 million minimum wage,” Governor Bago stated.
The governor assured that the new minimum wage, effective in November, would apply to both state and local government civil servants. He also noted that October salaries had already been disbursed under the current rate.
NLC Chairman in the state, Idrees Lafene, expressed optimism about the development, noting that the governor had exceeded expectations. While acknowledging that ₦80,000 remains below the high cost of living, Lafene remarked, “It’s not enough to buy a bag of rice, but at least, it’s a step forward.”
