Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State has brought joy to public workers by approving a new minimum wage of N72,500, surpassing the federal government’s approved wage by N2,500.
The announcement was made during the presentation of the Kogi State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee report, led by the Head of Service, Elijah Avenemi.
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Governor Ododo expressed his commitment to the welfare of workers across all levels in the state, highlighting his background and emphasizing his dedication to using state resources for the benefit of the people.
Alongside the wage increase, the governor also approved a one-year tax relief for state workers, suspending Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax deductions and any other salary deductions for the next year.
“I come from a humble background, and by the grace of God, I have risen to this position. I will not oppress anyone, but rather ensure that the people benefit from the state’s resources,” Ododo stated.
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He further affirmed that the new wage was part of a broader effort to ensure fairness and transparency, following staff audit screenings conducted by labor leaders and the government to eliminate ghost workers.
Gabriel Amari, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kogi State, praised the governor’s efforts and hailed him as the most worker-friendly governor in the state’s history.
Amari also lauded the swift and smooth process through which the implementation committee was able to finalize the new wage structure, noting that while other states have yet to set up such committees, Kogi has already completed its work in less than a month.
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The new wage approval marks a significant achievement for Kogi State, reinforcing the governor’s reputation as a champion of workers’ welfare and a leader dedicated to equitable governance.
