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We are facing challenges in about 20 states. Some have begun paying state-level workers but excluded local government workers and primary school teachers.
It has been reported by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) that around twenty states in Nigeria have not yet implemented the minimum wage of N70,000 for workers in local government and teachers in primary schools.
Among the states that are not in compliance with the wage law, the National President of NULGE, Alhaji Haruna Kankara, mentioned Yobe, Gombe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Borno, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as some of the states that are not in compliance.
The Minimum Wage Act, 2024 was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on July 29, 2024, and subsequent to that, numerous states started putting it into effect.
Among these are the states of Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Jigawa, Gombe, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, and Kogi.
In order to alleviate the impact of economic hardship, the Act imposed a 133 percent increase on the national minimum wage, which was raised from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.
According to Alhaji Kankara, who was speaking about the situation said, “We are facing challenges in about 20 states. Some have begun paying state-level workers but excluded local government workers and primary school teachers.
“Despite assurances from some state governments, implementation remains incomplete. We are continuing our advocacy.”
He noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has failed to authorize local councils to register independent bank accounts, a crucial step for financial autonomy.
Local government workers in Kwara State receive the new minimum salary since October 2024. However, high taxes have cut take-home earnings.
Seun Oyinlade, the State NULGE President said, “The government approved the minimum wage but imposed steep taxes. After appeals, workers received only a three-month tax relief, which ended in December. Deductions resumed in January.”
This was confirmed by Muritala Olayinka, the NLC’s state chairman, who stated that the union had written to the governor of the state to ask for a tax holiday extension.