Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has announced a new minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants in the state, effective May 1st, 2024. This development comes as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are pushing for a higher minimum wage at the federal level.
He made the announcement while commissioning the new Labour House in Edo state on Monday. The new wage is a major increase from the current national minimum wage of N30,000, which was set in 2019 and expired at the end of March 2024.
It would be recalled that the NLC and TUC have been demanding a new minimum wage of N615,000, citing the high inflation and food prices. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the inflation rate for March 2024 hit 33.2%, up from 31.70% in February, while food inflation rose to 31.7% in March from 30% in February.
A 37-member panel was set up in January to recommend a new national minimum wage, but a decision has not been made yet. The panel, which includes representatives from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organized labor, was tasked with submitting its report early, as the current minimum wage expired at the end of March 2024.
The announcement of a new minimum wage in Edo State is a positive development for civil servants in the state, but the NLC and TUC are still pushing for a higher minimum wage at the federal level to match the rising cost of living.
