Governor Obaseki Increases Minimum Wage To N70,000

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Godwin Obaseki has put smiles on the faces of Edo State Government Workers. He has approved the increment of the minimum wage to N70,000.

The new wage comes into effect from Wednesday May 1, 2024.

Governor Obaseki made the announcement of the approval while commissioning the new Labour House in Benin, Edo State Capital on Monday.

The increment of the Workers Wage is coming at a time when the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has been on a round table discussion with the Federal Government calling for the increment of the wage to match the increasing national inflation and skyrocketing food inflation.

NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, are demanding for the sum of N615,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the country.

The inflation rate for March 2024 hit 33.2 per cent from 31.70 per cent in February, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Food inflation also rose to 31.7 per cent in March from 30 per cent in February.

Political observers are of the opinion that Governor Obaseki approved the new minimum wage because of the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election, so as for the electorates to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.