Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has revealed that his administration has been implementing an additional N35,000 wage allowance for workers in the state since the beginning of the year, News About Nigeria reports.
Speaking at an event on Thursday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said that the government is committed to rolling out a new minimum wage scheme, both at the federal and state levels.
Speaking on the impact of the wage allowance, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that it has provided much-needed relief to workers amidst the economic challenges facing the country.
He noted that employees earning a minimum wage of N35,000 or more now receive a salary of N70,000 or above since the inception of the allowance in January.
“We will soon see a new minimum wage approved by the federal government and the state government,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
“Since January, we have continued to pay a wage allowance of a minimum of N35,000 over and above what workers were earning before.”
The governor said that the government will continue to ensure the security of life and property for residents.
“We are here to make life better for you, to provide the necessary support and security, and to ensure that you can live with dignity,” he stated.
Meanwhile, following the removal of the fuel subsidy, President Tinubu has approved a new N35,000 wage award for workers at both the state and federal levels until a new minimum wage is introduced.
However, organised labour has accused some states of failing to implement the wage award or discontinuing payments after a certain period.
In a related development, President Tinubu has inaugurated a 37-member tripartite committee on the national minimum wage.
The committee, headed by Bukar Goni Aji, a former head of service of the federation, comprises representatives from the federal and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour.
It is tasked with recommending a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers, with expectations of its introduction before the end of 2024.
