By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Kogi State Governor, Alh. Usman Ododo, on Monday, approved a new minimum wage of ₦72,500 for civil servants and local government workers in the state. The approval was given during a meeting in Lokoja after the governor received a report from the Kogi State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee, chaired by the State Head of Service, Elijah Avenemi. The implementation is to take effect immediately.
The approved ₦72,500 minimum wage is ₦2,500 higher than the ₦70,000 minimum wage set by the federal government in July for both private and public sector workers.
Governor Ododo emphasized his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of all workers in the state. He also announced a one-year tax relief for all state workers, stating that there will be no Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax or other deductions for the next year.
“As a former labor leader and civil servant, I understand the challenges civil servants face,” said Ododo. “Now that I have been given the opportunity to serve as governor, I will do everything within the state’s resources to provide relief for our workforce.”
The governor also expressed his gratitude for the people’s support, acknowledging his humble beginnings. “I come from a modest background, and by God’s grace, I am where I am today. My goal is to use my position not to oppress anyone but to uplift the people,” he added.
He praised the efforts of labor leaders and the government in conducting staff audits to ensure that the right workers receive their due, eliminating the issue of ghost workers. Governor Ododo urged workers to continue cooperating with his administration and assured them of the timely payment of salaries.
In response, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Gabriel Amari, lauded the governor for his efforts and described him as the most worker-friendly governor Kogi has ever had. Amari expressed surprise at how quickly the implementation committee arrived at the new minimum wage, noting that while some states are yet to establish such committees, Kogi set up its committee on September 17, 2024, and completed the process in less than a month.
Comrade Amari assured the governor of workers’ continued dedication to their duties and pledged their support for his administration’s plans for the state.
