Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State announced on Friday that the state is setting a long-term target of a N1 million minimum wage for civil servants.
In the meantime, he introduced an immediate increase to N80,000 for the state workforce.
Governor Bago shared the update after an extensive meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the Government House.
He expressed confidence in the state’s financial strategy, particularly its focus on agricultural development, which he believes will sustain the new wage.
“This N80,000 is sustainable. With our advancements in agriculture, we can afford this, and we’re also developing a civil service farm to increase productivity. With these efforts, we are confident we can reach a N1 million minimum wage,” he stated.
The new minimum wage will apply to both state and local government employees, with implementation beginning in November. Governor Bago noted that October’s salaries had already been disbursed under the previous wage structure.
Idrees Lafene, the NLC Chairman in Niger State, expressed optimism about the increase, acknowledging that while N80,000 is still below the rising cost of living, it’s a positive step forward.
“It’s not enough to buy a bag of rice at current prices, but it’s a start,” Lafene remarked, commending the governor for exceeding expectations.