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Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago announced a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for civil servants, with plans to increase it to ₦1 million. This decision follows discussions with the Nigerian Labour Congress and aims to improve the economic welfare of workers amid rising living costs.

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has announced an ambitious plan to raise the minimum wage for civil servants to ₦1 million. This declaration came during a press briefing at the Government House in Minna on October 25, 2024, where he also revealed an immediate increase to ₦80,000 for workers in the state.

The decision to adjust the minimum wage was reached following discussions with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Niger State. Bago emphasized that the ₦80,000 wage is sustainable, attributing this to the state’s agricultural initiatives aimed at enhancing productivity among civil servants. “We are creating a civil service farm to ensure that our workers can contribute actively and reap the benefits,” he said, indicating confidence that this strategy would support the proposed wage hike to ₦1 million shortly.

While the announcement of the ₦80,000 minimum wage has been met with optimism, some labor leaders have expressed concerns about its adequacy amid rising living costs. NLC Chairman Idrees Lafene acknowledged the new wage as a step forward but lamented that it does not cover necessities, noting that “it is not commensurate with a bag of rice.”

Governor Bago reassured that the ₦80,000 minimum wage will take effect in November, with salaries for October already disbursed, aiming to uplift the economic conditions for civil servants in the state.