Excitement in Ekiti, Abuja, Benue over Minimum Wage Increment for Workers

In Ekiti State, the government and labour leaders in the state have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the payment of the N70,000 wage approved by the Federal Government.
The state head of service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, in same vein, confirmed the payment would commence immediately, indicating that workers should expect the implementation of the minimum wage from November.

Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi assured reporters during a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday that the payment will commence right away. Despite the state’s meagre finances, the head of service praised Biodun Oyebanji, the governor of the state, for starting the payment process.
In their remarks, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Comrade Sola Adigun, the chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), praised Oyebanji for taking the necessary action and confirmed that the new minimum wage cut applied to all cadres, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Chairman, Comrade Femi Ajoloko, said the subsequent adjustment of Ekiti was a fair deal, hailing the state’s helmsman for his magnanimity towards workers in the state.

In a similar event, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the immediate payment of the N70,000 new national minimum wage for staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The minister also granted approval for payment of three-month arrears for all staff of the administration, with effect from November 2024.

The approval was given to improve workers welfare employed under the FCTA, according to a statement issued on Monday by Grace Adayilo, the Acting Head of Civil Service of the FCT.

According to the head of service, the minister also approved the payment of three months’ arrears to all administration employees, effective November 2024.
The statement further added that the move was part of the commitment of the minister to the welfare and well-being of the staff.
According to the Head of Service, the gesture will further spur the entire staff of the administration to support the minister to continue to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Adayilo equally thanked the minister for always granting expeditious approval for the payment of staff allowances and claims.
In Benue, the state governor, Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, has approved the implementation of N75,000 as minimum wage for the civil servants in the state beginning from November 2024. He also approved the payment of the three-month outstanding salary arrears inherited from the previous administration.
The governor disclosed this to journalists at a briefing after a closed-door meeting with the joint negotiation council, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other affiliate unions at the state secretariat.

Reacting to the approval, the chairman of the joint negotiation council applauded the governor, who also approved the payment of the three-month outstanding salary arrears inherited from the previous administration.
Members of the joint negotiation council, Benue State chapter, comprising of NLC, TUC, and other affiliate unions, were all at the state secretariat for a meeting on the implementation of the national minimum wage.