NYSC members yet to receive promised ₦77,000 allowance

Corps members across Nigeria have expressed frustration after receiving their February stipend, which remained at ₦33,000 instead of the ₦77,000 they were expecting.  The delay contradicts earlier promises by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the federal government. In January, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, assured corps members that their allowance had been approved for an increase and that payments would reflect the adjustment once the 2025 budget was passed.  However, as February ended, the allowance remained unchanged, and no official statement has been issued to explain the delay. This situation has left corps members struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.  Many find it difficult to afford basic needs such as food, transportation, and housing due to the economic downturn.  With inflation worsening and prices of essential goods soaring, the ₦33,000 stipend is no longer sufficient to cover daily expenses. Some corps members have voiced their disappointment, accusing the government of failing to keep its promises.  Many expected the increment to take effect immediately after the announcement but are now left in uncertainty. The continued delay has further fueled concerns about the government’s commitment to addressing economic challenges affecting young Nigerians.  Corps members are now calling for urgent clarification and action to ensure they receive the promised allowance.

Minimum Wage: pleateau workers get N70K  

The Plateau State government has announced the approval of a new minimum wage of N70,000 for its workforcem  This decision, effective immediately, follows the recommendations of a committee on salary adjustments. Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who authorized the new policy, aims to improve the welfare of civil servants and strengthen their role in achieving the state’s development objectives.  The administration expects workers to respond with a renewed sense of duty, enhancing service delivery and overall productivity in public service. The approval was conveyed through a statement from the Head of Civil Service, Stephen Gadong, underscoring the government’s commitment to fostering a more motivated and efficient workforce.

N70,000 Minimum Wage: Katsina Sets Up 13-Member Committee

The Katsina State Government has empaneled a whopping 13 member committee to implement the N70,000 minimum wage increase. The committee is to also address the financial challenges faced by its workforce.  Led by the Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal, the committee includes 13 members, representing labor unions, government officials, and civil society organizations. This initiative encompasses state and local government employees, along with other categories of workers, as Katsina joins other states such as Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, and Lagos in adopting or discussing similar wage adjustments.  Katsina’s move follows earlier investments in the state’s health sector, where nearly N3.78 billion was allocated for improvements from June 2023 to April 2024, including the establishment of a sickle cell center and free drug distributions at Katsina General Hospital.

Niger gov approves N80,000 minimum wage

The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has announced a new minimum wage of N80,000 to commence in November 2024. The governor revealed this after an extensive meeting between the state government and the leadership of the state labour union, assuring that he would continue to review the minimum wage for the state workforce. Speaking with journalists on Friday, Bago affirmed that the new minimum wage would be sustainable, given the government’s strides in agriculture. “This is very sustainable. ₦80,000 is sustainable. With our advances in agriculture, I am confident we can afford it. We are creating a civil service farm so that civil servants can be productive. With that, I am certain we could eventually pay as much as ₦1 million as minimum wage,” Bago said. The governor stated that the new minimum wage would apply to both state and local government civil servants, adding, “We have already paid this month’s salary, so it will take effect in November.” The Niger State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Idrees Lafene, who also spoke with journalists after the announcement, expressed his satisfaction with the development, stating that the governor had exceeded their expectations. “I feel delighted, and at least Niger State is now among the top-ranking states to implement a higher minimum wage,” Lafene said. The chairman acknowledged that while the new minimum wage does not match the current cost of living, it represents progress. “It is not enough to buy a bag of rice, but at least it is a step forward,” he added.

Minimum Wage: Lagos Approves N85,000

The governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwoolu has approved N85,000 as minimum wage for civil servants in the state. This is in line with the federal government’s approval of N70,000 as minimum wage in Nigeria. Governor Sanwoolu made this announcement on Channels TV last night in an interview session. This move comes as a great relief to workers with the Lagos state government as it goes a long way to ameliorate the current spiraling inflation and cost of living crisis. While announcing the new wage, the governor cautioned that this should not be misconstrued as competing with any state government but a reflection of the socioeconomic realities of Lagos state.

Ndigbo in the Crosshairs of ‘Days of Rage’ (2)

THE ‘Ides of March’ are now set for August. And that month is two days hence. Typical of Nigerians the ides of March have been re-branded and rechristened and restructured. Our own, if they actually happen, will not be for one momentous occasion. They are programmed to last for days, all of 10 consecutive days, from August 1. What a time to be alive.

Tinubu Sends ₦70,000 Minimum Wage Bill To NASS

Questions For Akpabio’s Senate Over Confirmation Of ministerial nominees

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday transmitted a national minimum wage bill to the House of Representatives in the National Assembly for consideration and passage. The President and the leadership of the Organised Labour had last Thursday agreed on ₦70,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers. Information Minister Mohammed Idris had said “the new national minimum that Mr President is expected to submit to the National Assembly is ₦70,000”. The truce between the government and labour sides followed a series of talks between labour leaders and the President in the last few weeks after months of failed talks between labour organs and a tripartite committee on minimum wage constituted by the President in January. The committee, which comprised state and federal governments and the Organised Private Sector, had proposed ₦62,000 while labour insisted on ₦250,000 as the new minimum wage for workers who currently earn ₦30,000 as minimum wage. Labour had said ₦30,000 was unsustainable for any worker going by the economic vagaries of inflation and high cost of living which followed the removal of petrol subsidy by the President. Despite its initial insistence on ₦250,000 as the new minimum wage, Labour accepted the President’s offer of ₦70,000 last Thursday. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, said Labour accepted ₦70,000 and rejected a proposal by President Bola Tinubu to pay ₦250,000 minimum wage on a condition to increase petrol prices. He also said Labour agreed to the ₦70,000 offer because minimum wage won’t be reviewed once in five years anymore but once every three years. The transmission of the wage bill came about six weeks after the President said in his Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2024, that an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for workers would be sent to the National Assembly for passage.

NLC accepts N70,000 as new national minimum wage

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accepted the offer of N70,000 as the new National Minimum Wage, as proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a meeting at the Presidential Villa on July 18, 2024.  This was disclosed in a statement via NLC’s X handle on Friday, July 19. This decision was made during an emergency treatment National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on July 19, 2024. The statement reads:”The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) convened today in an emergency meeting in response to the outcomes of the Meeting with the federal government which held yesterday, the 18th of July, 2024 at the Presidential Villa with the new National Minimum Wage in focus. “The President of the Federation, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presided over the meeting. “The NEC-in-session after extensive deliberations, unanimously: 1. Commended and applauded the doggedness of the leadership of the Congress on the courage and forthrightness with which they handled the National Minimum Wage fixing exercise 2. Accepted the President’s offer of N70,000 (Seventy thousand Naira) as the new National Minimum Wage and the 3-yearly tenure for its review. 3. Demanded full and strict compliance by all to the dictates of the National Minimum Wage 2024 when it becomes an Act.” “NEC-in-session concluded that this decision, though challenging and far from our initial demand, was made in the spirit of solidarity and sacrifice for Nigerian masses to avert a threatened further hike in the price of Petrol which would inflict more hardship on the already suffering masses. “Once again, NEC-in-session restates the commitment of the NLC to continue to stand resolutely in its mission to defend and advance the rights of Nigerian workers and Nigerian people at all times. It therefore calls on all Nigerians to unite in this cause and to hold our leaders accountable to the same standards of sacrifice and service.”

We need support to pay N70,000 minimum wage – Organised private sector

The Organised Private Sector, OPS, has reacted to the new N70,000 minimum wage adopted by the Federal Government. President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers, with a promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years. Reacting, the spokesperson of OPS, and Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, warned that members cannot pay the N70,000 national minimum wage announced by the Federal Government without support. He was quoted as saying: “While we commend the President for putting to rest the immediate issue of the National Minimum Wage, we also note, most importantly, his commitment to support the sub-nationals and the organised private sector to pay the new wage.”