Story by Iyiola Ayomide
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed that the state currently pays N85,000 minimum wage to its workers, which is N15,000 higher than the N70,000 approved by the Federal Government in July.
President Bola Tinubu signed the new N70,000 minimum wage bill into law in July, ending months of deliberations between government representatives, labour unions and the private sector.
Sanwo-Olu, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, said the state is not paying N85,000 to outdo others but because it has the capacity to do so.
“I am glad to let you know that the minimum wage for Lagos which we conversed and discussed with our union is N85,000 now,” Sanwo-Olu said on the programme.
“It is not a competition, so I am not going to say we are paying more than some other people, it is a function of affordability and it is a function of capacity, but we know too well that when people live in Lagos, Lagos has a premium in terms of even the cost of living, we are fully aware.”
The governor also revealed that the state had earlier in the year increased the salary of workers, adding that it is his wish to be able to make the minimum wage of N100,000 in January 2025.
“We actually increased salaries earlier in the year and deserving so for our staff and we will continue to do that.
“I would like to come back to you in January to say I have been able to increase the minimum wage of Lagos to N100,000 not because I want to make anybody look bad, it is really because I want my people to have a living wage, I want them to really be able to know that government is working for them,” he said.
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