Kebbi Gov Idris Approves N75,000 Minimum Wage, Orders Implementation Within 72 Hours

By Ayodele Oni

The Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris,  has signed into law a new minimum wage of N75,000.

The governor also directed the State Accountant General, Ministry of Finance and Ministry for Local Government to ensure implementation of the new wage within 72 hours.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris, stated that the new minimum wage was signed into law before the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and his executive members who were in Kebbi State for a meeting.

Speaking shortly after signing the wage at Government House, Birnin Kebbi, Idris said all categories of workers would benefit from the new minimum wage and “it must start from this month of October.”

The governor recalled that right from the onset, he promised not to disappoint labour, saying that the labour has now started harvesting what they have planted.

“I want to use this medium to thank the NLC president and the labour for supporting me to win my election.

“The national leadership was here in Kebbi State in support of my election and by their support, I won my election and at the same time, I won my cases in different court of law.

“I promised you that I will never fail you and I promised that I will not fail Kebbi workers also. I reiterate my commitment and sincerity to using the Kebbi resources judiciously, with fear of God and I will not fail you, and will not fail Kebbi workers.

“In my administration I don’t owe salaries, I don’t owe pension, I don’t owe gratuity, I don’t owe death benefit and I pay leave grant up to 2023.”

The governor explained that he was supposed to be the first governor in Nigeria to implement minimum wage, but there was no template to lay hand on.

He pointed out that the new wage was the outcome of a joint committee comprising representatives of both labour and the state, who arrived at three different wages of N70,000, N72,000 and N75,000, “but we decided to pick the highest which is the NLC/TUC table.

Responding on behalf of workers, the NLC National President, Mr Joe Ajaero appreciated the governor for the gesture, describing it as a good example shown to the Nigerian political terrain.

“Beyond this minimum wage, we can see there are some leaders who combined it with physical and human capital development.

“If you go round Kebbi, compare it with previous years, you see development everywhere.”

He lamented that some states received 13 per cent derivation, yet, they stood at N70,000 minimum wage, but Kebbi was able to go beyond such states including the federal government.

While commending Gov. Idris for opening a new leave in governance, Ajaero also said “Kebbi is a state where you obtain positive news since Kaura assumed power.”

The president charged workers to justify the wage increase with hard work, dedication and loyalty to all civil service rules and regulations.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida, who is also the Chairman of the Minimum Wage Committee had earlier presented the report of the committee to the governor.