Workers in Rivers State have expressed jubilation following the state government’s implementation of the newly approved N85,000 minimum wage.
The development came after public school teachers and other state employees received their November salary alerts, revealing the wage adjustment had been fully applied.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved a N70,000 national minimum wage, a decision influenced by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in response to the country’s economic challenges.
However, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara opted for a higher rate of N85,000, which he promised to sustain through the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Governor Fubara also announced a significant increase in the state’s IGR, which surged from N11 billion under the previous administration to N27 billion under his leadership.
Chukwuma Osunna, Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (Rivers State chapter), confirmed the payment of the new wage. He expressed satisfaction, stating: “The governor has fulfilled his promise. As of today, November 27, 2024, workers have received the N85,000 new minimum wage and are very happy.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kano State have both commended the local government for its approval of the N71,000 minimum wage.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano announced this wage increase in October, with a commitment to implement it with November salaries.
The NLC Kano State chapter extended its appreciation to the state government for fulfilling its promise, while the NMA, represented by Dr. Mohammed Aminu Musa, applauded the upward revision of the CONMESS structure for doctors working in state hospitals.
Kabiru Inuwa, the NLC chairman in Kano, praised the decision, noting that the wage increase is a crucial step towards improving the welfare and living standards of the state’s workforce.
