Just In: Niger to Pay N80,000 Minimum Wage

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State government is to pay N80,000 minimum wage effective November, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago announced the new package in Minna on Friday evening after a meeting with officials of the organised labour in the state.

Bago assured that the wage will be upgraded depending on “existing circumstances.”

Bago told newsmen after the meeting that the new minimum wage would be sustained given the governments stride in agriculture.

“This is very sustainable. N80,000 is sustainable. We are sure that with our stride in agriculture we can pay.”

The governor also said that the state government “is creating civil service farm so that civil servants can be productive, ” adding that “With that we are sure that we can do both N1 million as minimum wage.”

The governor explained that the new minimum wage would cut across the state and local government workers, pointing out that “we have already paid this month’s salary and so it will start in November”.

The Niger State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress Comrade Idrees Lafene who also spoke with newsmen after the announcement said he was excited about the development, adding that the governor exceeded their expectations.

“I feel delighted, at least, Niger State is among the top ranking states to implement minimum wage,” Lafene said.

The chairman who admitted that the new minimum wage was not commensurate with the high cost of living, noted that N80,000 cannot buy a bag of rice as of now.

“It is not comensurate with a bag of rice but at least, it is a step forward”.

The organised labour had refused to collect the october salary unless the minimum wage was implemented in the state.