Kaduna govt pays ₦72,000 minimum wage to workers

The Kaduna State Government has commenced the implementation of the new national minimum wage, with the lowest-paid worker receiving a gross salary of ₦72,000 in November.

Malam Ibraheem Musa, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday, countering claims by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that the state had defaulted on the new wage payment.

“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, has complied with the spirit and letter of the National Minimum Wage Law by paying the lowest-paid civil servant ₦72,000 last month,” Musa stated.

Musa highlighted the state’s financial situation, revealing that Kaduna receives an average of ₦8 billion from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and generates ₦4 billion monthly in internal revenue, totaling ₦12 billion. However, the implementation of the new minimum wage has increased the state’s wage bill from ₦5.4 billion to ₦6.3 billion. Additionally, a monthly loan deduction of ₦4 billion further constrains available funds.

“This leaves only ₦2 billion for rural transformation, healthcare, education, and other public services,” he explained.

Musa emphasized that it would be unfair for the state to allocate nearly all its revenue to salary adjustments, noting that the state’s civil servants, numbering 84,827, represent about 1% of the population.

“There are over 10 million people entitled to the state’s revenue. It is unreasonable for the government to spend over 90% of its revenue on such a small segment of the population,” he added.

He urged the NLC to be patient regarding consequential adjustments, pending an improvement in the state’s finances.

“Governor Uba Sani is labor-friendly and has demonstrated this by providing free buses for civil servants to commute, as part of palliatives to ease economic hardship,” Musa concluded.