By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
On July 29, 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the N70,000 minimum wage bill into law after months of negotiations with labour unions.
The new monthly minimum wage was raised by 133 percent from 30,000 to 70,000, amid the economic hardship eroding millions of Nigerians’ purchasing power.
The increment is viewed as a positive step toward bettering the welfare of Nigerian civil servants and addressing the increasing cost of living.
While many governors welcome the initiative, some have voiced concerns about their states’ financial ability to meet the new requirements.
Below is a list of states that are going to be paying exactly or above N70,000 minimum wage to workers:
1. Lagos State
Lagos state took the lead in workers’ welfare as Governor Sanwo-Olu approved a minimum wage of N85,000 for state workers, surpassing the N70,000 wage, during a live interview on Channels TV. He further announced that this will rise to N100,000 by January 2025, in his fulfilling his promise to enhance the living conditions of civil servants in Lagos.
2. Rivers State
On October 18, 2024, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara approved a new minimum wage of N85,000 for state civil servants.
The decision was made during a private meeting with representatives of organized labor under the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council at the Government House in Port Harcourt. It was noted that the payment will start in November.
3. Bayelsa State
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Senator, on October 27, 2024, approved N80,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state’s civil service with effect from November 1, 2024.
The governor also approved an increase in the monthly pension of retired workers as well as N7billion to reduce outstanding gratuity liabilities.
4. Niger State
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State also announced a new minimum wage of N80,000 for state and local government civil servants, effective from November 2024.
The announcement followed an extensive meeting with the state’s Organised Labour Union on October 25, 2024, during which the governor pledged to review and enhance wages for the state’s workforce regularly.
5. Enugu State
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has authourised a new minimum wage of N80,000 for state workers, effective October 2024, joining the list of governors approving the new national minimum wage.
He announced this on October 24, 2024, via his official X account. While emphasising the significance of the decision for Enugu’s workforce, he stated that his administration values the workers’ dedication and sacrifices and remains committed to prioritising their welfare in line with its campaign promises.
6. Akwa Ibom State:
On October 23, 2024, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, announced a new minimum wage package of N80,000 for public civil servants in the state. Eno also constituted an Implementation committee with a mandate to deliver its report within one month.
7. Oyo State
The Oyo State Government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, on November 6, 2024, approved a minimum wage of N80,000 for its workers.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, the technical committee set up by the government recommended and got approval from Governor Seyi Makinde for the implementation of the new salary scale.
Oyelade said the new scale will be implemented as soon as the consequential adjustments process is completed by the committee, which comprises top government and labour officials.
8. Delta State
The Delta State government under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori also announced that it will begin paying a new minimum wage of N77,500 to its workers starting at the end of October.
Dr. Kingsley Emu, Secretary to the State Government, made the announcement during a meeting with representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC).
9. Ogun State
Dapo Abiodun, the executive governor of Ogun State, has joined the growing list of governors ready to implement the new minimum wage.
The governor expressed his readiness to pay the new national minimum wage and approved N77,000 as the new minimum wage for Ogun State civil servants, with immediate effect.
This development was disclosed on October 14, 2024, by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, following a meeting with the leadership of organised labour in the state.
10. Kebbi State:
Similarly, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State on October 23, approved 75,000 naira as a new minimum wage for the state civil servants.
The chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress in the state, Murtala Usman, stated this while speaking with our correspondents.
“Mr Governor has shown that he is with the workers in the state. We proposed three tables for him. “We proposed 72,000, 73,000, and 75,000 naira and he decided to go for the 75,000 naira, which shows he is for the workers.
“To crown it all, he also said the payment starts this month of October, salaries which he categorically said should be made available to workers in the next 72 hours,” he added.
11. Osun State
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Friday, November 22, 2024, approved a new minimum wage of ₦75,000 for workers following the Public Service Negotiation Committee’s report.
The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi who confirmed the development said the approval reflects the administration’s commitment to social justice, economic growth, and improved living standards for civil servants.
Governor Adeleke urged workers to enhance service delivery and uphold transparency for the state’s development.
12. Benue State
On November 18, 2024, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State approved the implementation of N75,000 as minimum wage for the civil servants in the state beginning from November 2024.
The governor made this known after a closed-door meeting with the joint negotiation council, comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other affiliates unions at the state secretariat in Makurdi.
13. Ondo State
On October 12, 2024, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced an increase in the minimum wage to N73,000 for state workers as part of his campaign launch ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
14. Kogi State
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State approved a N72,500 minimum wage for civil servants, effective immediately. He also suspended the tax on the new wage for one year.
15. Kaduna State
Governor Uba Sani on October 31, 2024, approved a new minimum wage of N72,000 for civil servants, effective November 2024.
In a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Musa, the governor highlighted that this decision reflects his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of workers and enhancing the living standards of the poor, vulnerable, and underserved in the state.
This move also aligns with Governor Sani’s longstanding dedication to promoting workers’ rights, supporting their well-being, and caring for the disadvantaged.
16. Gombe State:
The state government and the Nigeria Labour Congress signed an agreement on October 14, 2024, to raise the minimum wage to N71,451.15.
17. Kano State
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State on October 29, 2024, approved a new minimum wage of N71,000 for civil servants in the state.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Yusuf said, “The decision is in line with my administration’s commitment to social justice and the improvement of living standards for our workers.
“In line with our commitment to social justice and enhancing the standard of living for our workers, we have approved the sum of 71,000 naira as the new minimum wage in Kano State.”
18 Adamawa State: Governor Ahmadu Fintiri approved a N70,000 monthly minimum wage for both state and local government workers in August.
19. Anambra State: Governor Chukwuma Soludo revealed that the state will begin paying the N70,000 minimum wage starting in October 2024.
20. Katsina State: Governor Dikko Radda committed his administration to implementing the N70,000 wage.
21. Ebonyi State: In September, Governor Francis Nwifuru approved the N70,000 minimum wage for state civil servants.
22. Abia State: Civil servants in Abia State will receive the new N70,000 national minimum wage from October 2024.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, made this known at the Government House Umuahia on Tuesday while addressing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
23. Kwara State: Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has also approved the implementation of a new N70,000 minimum wage, in line with the Federal Government’s directive, according to a statement from the state government over the weekend.
In a statement issued on October 19, 2024, the State Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru, confirmed that the new wage would take effect across the Kwara State public service from October 2024. She described the move as a significant step towards enhancing the welfare of workers in the state.
24. Jigawa State: Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has approved the payment of the new N70,000 National Minimum Wage to workers in the state.
Hon. Sagir Musa, the Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse on October 28, 2024,
He said that Namadi made the pronouncement on Friday after receiving the report from the state’s Minimum Wage Committee led by Muhammad Dagacire, the Head of Service.
25. Edo State
The Edo State Government under Governor Godswill Obaseki has started paying the N70,000 new minimum wage to workers in the state in
This is in fulfillment of the promise to increase the minimum wage from May 2024.
26. Borno State
Similarly, Borno State Government under Governor Babagana Zulum started paying N70,000 minimum wage in October 2024.
The Chairman of the new Minimum Wage Committee in Borno, Dr Babagana Mallambe, who confirmed this said the wage was approved to boost the morale, productivity and spur the economic condition of civil servants in the state.
27. Ekiti State
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on November 19, 2024, approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for workers in the state effective December 1, 2024.
The approval followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the state Government and leaders of Organised labour in the state.
28. Taraba State
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas on November 12, 2024, approved the implementation of a ₦70,000 minimum wage for workers, effective November 2024, according to a statement by the Head of Service, Paul Maigida.
29. Yobe State
Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has approved a ₦70,000 minimum wage for state civil servants, effective December 2024.
This decision follows the recommendations of a government-constituted committee, which advised reconciling local government finances to ensure a smooth transition to the new wage structure.
30. FCT
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, also approved a ₦70,000 minimum wage for FCTA workers, including three months’ arrears, on November 19, 2024.
Acting Head of Civil Service, Grace Adayilo, who disclosed the development highlighted the decision as part of the minister’s commitment to worker welfare and support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.