Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State announced on Friday that the state will start paying a minimum wage of N73,000 to civil servants starting this November.
The announcement, made during the 2024 Public Service Week celebration, follows the Federal Government’s recent increase to a N70,000 minimum wage for federal civil servants.
During the event, which included a fitness walk promoting public workers’ health, Aiyedatiwa emphasized that civil servant welfare is a top priority for his administration. “A committee was set up to work out the implementation structure of the minimum wage, and now that it has just been concluded, I will give the necessary approval for the payment of N73,000 to begin,” he stated.
He highlighted that the new wage is intended to improve public workers’ lives rather than serve political motivations, noting that employee satisfaction drives productivity.
State Head of Service Bayo Philips commended Aiyedatiwa for fostering a supportive environment for civil servants, including timely salary payments, regular promotions, leave bonuses, and pensions.
He stressed that the civil servants present were there to express appreciation, not for political reasons, but in gratitude for the governor’s consistent attention to their needs.
Trade Union Congress Chairman, Comrade Clement Fatuwase, expressed confidence in the governor’s continued support and assured him that Ondo State civil servants would stand by him in the upcoming November 16 governorship election. Fatuwase noted, “After the election, we will proudly celebrate the governor’s victory as a tribute to his dedication to our welfare.”