Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has approved a new minimum wage of N77,000 for the lowest-paid workers in the state, with the payment taking effect immediately.
This decision was announced following a meeting between the state government, led by Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, and leaders of the Organised Labour in Ogun State, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC). The meeting focused on implementing the new minimum wage.
According to Talabi, the governor’s directive ensures that no worker in Ogun State will earn less than N77,000 starting from October. He emphasized that the governor is committed to improving the welfare of the state’s workers and mitigating their economic challenges.
Hameed Benco, Chairman of the NLC in Ogun State, expressed satisfaction with the decision, noting that the N77,000 minimum wage is the highest in the country. He compared it to other states that have implemented lower wage levels, such as N70,000 or N70,250.
Additionally, Benco highlighted that the new basic salary would not be taxed, and adjustments for other sectorial salaries would follow. Comrades Akeem Lasisi of the TUC and Isa Olude of the JNC also praised the government’s worker-friendly approach, mentioning that further consultations would address consequential adjustments for pensioners.
The Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, applauded the governor’s responsiveness to workers’ concerns and expressed hope that this development would boost workers’ morale and commitment to executing government policies.
