Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has announced a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for civil servants, set to take effect in November 2024. The decision follows extensive negotiations between the state government and the state’s Labour Union. Governor Bago highlighted the state’s agricultural development as a sustainable foundation for this wage increase, expressing optimism about future increments.
“This is sustainable,” Bago stated, emphasizing the potential of the state’s civil service farm project to increase productivity. He even suggested that with further agricultural growth, a ₦1 million minimum wage could be within reach.
The wage adjustment will cover both state and local government employees. Idris Lafene, Niger State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), applauded the move, noting that it exceeded union expectations. “Though ₦80,000 doesn’t fully meet current costs, it’s a positive step forward,” Lafene added.
Other northern states have also recently raised their minimum wages. Gombe, Kogi, and Kebbi states announced new rates ranging from ₦71,500 to ₦75,000, signaling a trend in northern Nigeria’s wage improvements.
