Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has announced a new minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants in the state. The governor made the announcement on Monday while commissioning the new Labour House in Edo state. The new wage is set to take effect on May 1st, 2024.
This move comes as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is pressing the Federal Government to increase the national minimum wage to match rising inflation and food prices. The NLC has demanded a new minimum wage of N615,000, citing the increasing cost of living in the country.
The announcement is a significant development in the ongoing negotiations between the government and labour unions over the minimum wage. The current national minimum wage of N30,000 expired at the end of March 2024, and a new agreement is yet to be reached.
Governor Obaseki’s decision may put pressure on the Federal Government to follow suit and increase the national minimum wage.