Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that the state is set to implement a minimum wage of N85,000 for its workers, with plans to raise it to N100,000 by January 2025.
Speaking on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* on Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu announced the new wage, which is N15,000 higher than the federal government’s minimum wage adjustment made in July.
“I’m pleased to inform you that Lagos has agreed on a minimum wage of N85,000 after discussions with our union,” the governor stated, adding that this decision is not about competing with other states but is based on the state’s financial capacity.
Sanwo-Olu emphasized that the increase is aimed at providing civil servants with a “living wage” and reaffirming the government’s dedication to their welfare. He also expressed his hope to further raise the minimum wage to N100,000 by January 2025.
Following sustained pressure from labor unions, President Bola Tinubu’s administration had in July raised the national minimum wage to N70,000, a 43% increase from the previous N30,000.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had pushed for the raise, citing high inflation, fuel subsidy removal, and the deregulation of the Naira. They argued that the previous wage of N30,000 was insufficient to meet the rising cost of living for Nigerian workers.
By September, only seven states had formed committees to begin the process of implementing the new wage. Prior to the increase, the Nigeria Governors Forum warned that even a N60,000 minimum wage would be unsustainable for many states, as it would consume most of their monthly allocations, leaving little for development projects.
Sanwo-Olu also noted that the state had already raised worker salaries earlier this year.