Kogi State government has approved the sum of N72,500.00( Seventy-two thousand Five hundred Naira) as minimum wage for the state civil servants and local government workers.
The State governor, Usman Ododo disclosed this while receiving the reports of the State Minimum Wage Committee which was set up by the government to look into the implementation of the new minimum age for the workers at the banquet hall, government house in Lokoja on Monday.
He also stated that consequential adjustments would be done to cut across all categories of workers in the state, stressing that the move is in the fulfilment of the promises made to serve the people.
He also granted a tax relief order for a period of one year to all civil servants in the State , the pronouncement which received a loudest accolades.
The governor, Stated, “after looking at all indices , we have discussed and agreed jointly and graciously approved the sum of N72,500 as minimum wage for all category of workers”.
The governor therefore urged the civil servants to rededicate themselves to the present administration agenda for over all transformations to the State.
This, followed the federal government’s approval of the sum of N70,000 to as minimum wage for the workers, Kogi has now joined other states who have implemented the new minimum wage.
Earlier in his address the Chairman of the Kogi State Minimum Wage Committee and the Head of Service, Mr Elijah Abenemi explained that the state government had set up the committee on the September 17th, 2024 with the terms of reference to look in the modalities to implement the new minimum wage in the State.
Abenemi pointed out that the Committee engaged in a dialogue with the unwavering commitment to get the best for Kogi Civil servants.
He noted that the assignment was an herculean tasks that the committee had to come out up to four options, the governor graciously picked and approved the first option.
The Chairman however commended the State governor, Usman Ododo for his magnanimity to approve N72,500.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress Comrade Gabriel Amari expressed gratitude to governor Ododo, stressing that like Oliver Twist, the labour would always ask for more.
Amari appealed to the State governor to help took into various outstanding allowances , such promotion arrears and leave bonuses.
Ibrahim Oyewale
