Niger Begins Payment of Minimum Wage

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Government on Thursday began the payment of the new minimum wage to workers in the state civil service.

Some workers at about 5.30pm on Thursday received the alert for the payment from their banks

THISDAY learnt however that it was not the full N80,000 minimum wage promised by Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago that was paid.

According to those that have received the alerts it was 70% of the N80,000 minimum wage pledged by the governor that was paid to all category of workers.

The government said the N80,000 minimum wage was not captured in the 2024 budget hence the administration had to source for funds to ensure the governor’s promise was kept.

It was learnt that the government had assured that full implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage will be paid from January 2025 since it will be included in the year’s budget.

No official of the ministry of finance was prepared to confirm the story when they were contacted.

Also, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Abdulkhareem Lafene, could not be reached as his cell phones were switched off.

The Secretary of the Congress Salihu when reached on phone declined to confirm the story saying: “I don’t have authority to speak on minimum wage, contact the chairman.”

When told the congress chairman’s phones were switched off, Salihu replied, “Continue to try him, you will get him”.