Zamfara Govt to Implement N30k Minimum Wage, Despite NLC rejection of FG’s 54k Proposal

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State announced on Wednesday that his administration would begin paying a minimum wage of N30,000 starting next month.

The announcement was made during a meeting with the leadership of the labour unions in Zamfara State.

In a statement issued by Sulaiman Bala Idris, the spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor,  says the implementation of the new minimum wage demonstrates the state government’s commitment to enhancing workers’ welfare.

The previous minimum wage was N7,000, violating the signed minimum wage bill 2019.

Governor Lawal, while addressing the leaders of the Zamfara State chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), emphasised that the increase to N30,000 is intended to motivate workers in the state.

Today, I want to announce to the Zamfara State Labour Union leaders that my government will commence payment of 30 thousand Naira minimum wage next month in June, he mentioned.

Governor Lawal also highlighted several achievements under his administration, including the payment of withheld three months’ salaries of workers, leave grants and other bonuses. Additionally, the state government said it has paid a total of N4.3 billion in four batches to state and local government retirees, addressing a backlog of payments that have been pending since 2011.

We have further plans to improve the efficiency of the civil service in Zamfara. No employee should be concerned about retirement, as we will ensure timely payment of retirement benefits without any delays. We are committed to our rescue mission, he added.

The announcement comes years after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the N30,000 minimum wage into law on April 18, 2019. The Minimum Wage Repeal and Enactment Act of 2019 mandates both public and private employers to pay N30,000 as the minimum wage. The announcement shows that the state’s government, like several other states, failed to implement the minimum wage as announced by then-President Buhari.

Amid the current hardship and inflation in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) recently rejected the Federal Government’s proposed ₦54,000 minimum wage, arguing it was insufficient. The Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage had suggested raising the initial ₦48,000 to ₦54,000, but the NLC had demanded ₦615,000, citing inflation and the cost of living for an average family of six.

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