Despite the Federal Government’s recent approval of the N70,000 minimum wage, the majority of Nigerian states have yet to take concrete steps toward its implementation.
According to reports, as of now, 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have not set up the required committees to facilitate the payment of the new wage, sparking concerns among civil servants and labor unions.
The states lagging behind include Plateau, Kebbi, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Delta, Osun, Ekiti, Zamfara, Benue, Enugu, Taraba, Gombe, Kogi, Enugu, Adamawa, Niger, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Katsina, Kaduna, Cross River, and Yobe.
In contrast, only seven states—Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Borno, Jigawa, Ondo, and Abia—have taken proactive measures by establishing committees tasked with overseeing the implementation of the new wage structure.
The report by The Punch noted that this widespread inaction comes despite the law being signed by President Bola Tinubu on July 29, 2024, following extensive negotiations with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
Meanwhile, Lagos and Edo stand out as the only states that have reportedly commenced payment of the N70,000 minimum wage to their workers.
