The Lagos and Delta states’ governments have promised to pay N85,000 and N77,500 as the minimum wage for their workers.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the new minimum wage, which is N15,000 higher than the N70,000 approved by the Federal Government in July.
The governor announced the new minimum wage on Channels Television’s evening programme, “Politics Today”.
He said: “I am glad to let you know that the minimum wage for Lagos, which we conversed and discussed with our union is N85,000 today.
“It is not a competition. So, I am not going to say we are paying more than some other people. It is a function of affordability and it is a function of capacity. But we know too well that when people live in Lagos, Lagos has a premium in terms of even the cost of living. We are fully aware.”
The governor recalled that earlier in the year, the state had increased the salary of workers, saying it was his wish to make the minimum wage of N100,000 from next year.
“We actually increased salaries earlier in the year and deserving so for our workers and we will continue to do that.
“I would like to come back to you in January to say I have been able to increase the minimum wage of Lagos to N100,000 not because I want to make anybody look bad; it is really because I want my people to have a living wage, I want them to really be able to know that government is working for them,” he said.
In Delta State, the government has officially announced that it would start paying a minimum wage of N77,500 to its workers as from the end of this month.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, announced this at a meeting of the committee of the new minimum wage with the leadership of the state’s organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC).
Emu said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori directed the payment of the new minimum wage as from the end of this month.
“The minimum wage committee earlier agreed that we can’t make payment until the National Income Salaries and Wages Commission sends the chart. We have now received the chart and we have in the last three sessions gone through the consequential adjustments and implications on our cash flow.
“Even though we have not been able to determine all the ramifications of the consequential adjustments on the future cash flow requirements of the state, the governor directed we go ahead to pay because he feels the pains of the people as a labour-friendly governor,” he said.
NLC State Chairman Goodluck Ofobruku hailed Oborevwori for promptly approving the new minimum wage.
