The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants in the state. This announcement comes after Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s recent increase of ₦35,000 in wage allowance for employees in Lagos State.

Governor Obaseki made this announcement during the commissioning of the new Labour House in Edo state, stating that the new wage will take effect from May 1st, 2024. This move is seen as a response to the ongoing battle between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government over increasing the minimum wage to match the rising national inflation, which hit 33.2 per cent for March 2024.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had demanded a new minimum wage of N615,000 for workers in the country. To address this, President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, set up a 37-member panel to recommend a new national minimum wage, as the current N30,000 minimum wage expired at the end of March 2024.

The approval of the new minimum wage in Edo State reflects a commitment to improving the welfare of civil servants and addressing the challenges posed by inflation, showcasing a progressive approach towards ensuring fair compensation and uplifting the standard of living for workers.