Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, on Wednesday approved N75,000 as the minimum wage for the lowest-paid civil servant in the state.
He signed the state minimum wage edict into law at the state house, in the presence of national officials from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by its President, Joe Ajaero.
Speaking after signing the wage edict, Governor Idris said all categories of workers would benefit from the new minimum wage starting in October.
The governor recalled that right from the onset, he promised not to disappoint labour, saying that the labour had now started harvesting what they had planted.
“I want to use this medium to thank the NLC president and the labour for supporting me to win my election.
“The national leadership was here in Kebbi State in support of my election and by their support, I won my election and at the same time, I won my cases in different courts of law.
“I promised you that I will never fail you and I promised that I will not fail Kebbi workers also. I reiterate my commitment and sincerity to using the Kebbi resources judiciously, with fear of God and I will not fail you, and will not fail Kebbi workers.
“In my administration, I don’t owe salaries, I don’t owe pension, I don’t owe gratuity, I don’t owe death benefit and I pay leave grant up to 2023,” he confirmed.
The governor said he was supposed to be the first governor in Nigeria to implement minimum wage but there was no template to lay hands on.
He explained that the new wage was the outcome of a joint committee comprising representatives of both labour and the state, who arrived at three different wages of N70,000, N72,000, and N75,000, “but we decided to pick the highest which is the NLC/TUC table.
Responding on behalf of workers, the NLC National President, Mr Joe Ajaero appreciated the governor for the gesture, describing it as a good example shown to the Nigerian political terrain.
“Beyond this minimum wage, we can see there are some leaders who combined it with physical and human capital development. If you go around Kebbi, and compare it with previous years, you see development everywhere.
He lamented that some states received 13 percent derivation, yet, they stood at N70,000 minimum wage but Kebbi was able to go beyond such states including the federal government.
While commending Gov. Idris for opening a new leave in governance, Ajaero also said “Kebbi is a state where you obtain positive news since Kaura assumed power.”
The president charged workers to justify the wage increase with hard work, dedication, and loyalty to all civil service rules and regulations.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Yakubu Bala-Tafida, who is also the Chairman of the Minimum Wage Committee had earlier presented the report of the committee to the governor.
