The announcement of the commencement of payment of new minimum wage in September, 2019 by Kebbi state government came to the people of the state especially civil servants as a big surprise. When the announcement was made on Monday 23rd September, 2019 by the Secretary to the Kebbi State Government, Alhaji Babale Umar, flanked by the Head of Civil Service of the state, Alhaji Musa Tanko Magaji and some directors at the Cabinet office in Birnin Kebbi, even the curious journalists that converged to cover the pronouncement by the SSG thought it was just a routine press briefing on entirely a different issue.

But to the surprise of all, the SSG said the Kebbi State Government has approved new minimum wage of N30,000 to state workers with effect from this month. He stated that: “In line with the signing of the new minimum wage legislation by President Muhammadu Buhari, and cognisance of Kebbi Government’s commitment to workers’ welfare, Governor Atiku Bagudu has graciously approved for the immediate payment of minimum wage of N30,000 to the state civil servants with effect from September 2019”.

He further opined that the implementation was sequel to the consultation with members of Kebbi State House of Assembly, leaders of labour unions and relevant government agencies.

Soon after the announcement, the information quickly circulated to the entire state within a short period owing to the fact that the information went viral through the social media even before the conventional media released their part of the story.



Many workers in the first place did not believe the information they got through the social media for they consider it an unreliable source of information, even with the picture of the governor, and the SSG who made the announcement pasted on such messages, for the notion that the information could be a fake news.

However, their doubt began to fizzle out when the online stories of some major newspapers came out some hours after the announcement. It was joy, laughter and jubilation over the unexpected information. Civil servants were seen jubilating over the matter.



With the announcement and subsequent implementation of the minimum wage, Kebbi State now takes the lead in northern Nigeria and perhaps one of the few states in the country to douse the tension or controversy surrounding payment of N30,000 minimum wage.

This is being achieved even with the lean resources of the state government that heavily depends on its monthly allocation from the federation account and meagre internally generated revenue amounting to a paltry over N300 million, to pay workers their salaries.



It will be recalled that in 2017, the Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Augie, during a ministerial briefing organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Kebbi State said that the state generated N6.4 billion IGR in two years. “The board of Internal Revenue contributed a total of N6,441,185 to the state coffers since inception of this administration in 2015 ‘’, he explained.



Perhaps why most people especially the hardworking state’s civil servants viewed the increment as a surprise was because the state has a history of not implementing wages accordingly. Even the N18,000 minimum wage introduced by the then President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration was not fully implemented by the immediate administration of Alhaji Saidu Nasamu Dakingari. This led to series of strikes by labour unions in the state spearheaded by Nigeria Labour Organisation (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). Hence, workers in the state did not enjoy the full implementation of N18,000 minimum wage. Certain percentage was merely approved by the previous administration.

However, the state has a good history of prompt and regular payment of workers’ salary. Even under the present administration, salaries are paid on a regular basis.



It is a known fact that resource constraints has been the major obstacle for states to pay the new minimum wage, but even the Bagudu-led administration has agreed to pay as said by the SSG.

“In spite of the resource constraint, the state government has decided to implement the new minimum wage, no employee of the state government shall receive less than N30,000 while other employees would also receive the same wage as agreed upon the consequential increase of the allowances in line with the guidelines,” he emphasized.

However, local government areas were encouraged to take steps to improve their revenue base so as to implement the new minimum wage.

“Local government councils are encouraged to review their revenue profiles and take steps to implement the new minimum wage legislation immediately,” the secretary to the state government said.



A cross section of civil servants who spoke on the development expressed their happiness with the increment.

Bello Adamu, 58, a civil servant in the state, thanked the Kebbi state government for taking the lead in the implementation of the 30,000 minimum wage.

He said: “I remain thankful to our governor. He has really tried for us. My purchasing power has now increased.” Another labourer, Jabbi Sadu, stated that: “We have now entered next level in Kebbi on a positive note. Thirty thousand Naira is not a small money for me, I am really happy over the matter”.



Hadiza Sahabi, a married woman aged 32, on her part said she would use the additional money from her salary to improve her business and support her family. Abubakar Sule is another civil servant in Kebbi who used to earn less than N30, 000 per month, but with the implementation of the minimum wage, he now earns more than that.

He warned labour leaders in the state to accept the new minimum wage as presented by the government in view of the dwindling economy.

However, the announcement of the new wage has generated some shock waves to the organized labour in the state. The Kebbi State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Umar Alhassan Halidu, after the union’s meeting said government did not carry them along on the issue of the implementation of new wage to workers before arriving at the decision. Although he described the new minimum wage as a welcome development especially for grade level 1 to 6 workers, he stated that the bone of contention was those from grade 7 upwards. He appealed to government to revisit the issue based on principle of fair bargaining.https://leadership.ng/2019/09/28/jubilation-in-kebbi-as-bagudu-pays-new-minimum-wage-of-n30000/? Mynd44 oam4j lalasticlala

Good development what a remarkable effort Dan Bagudu sai next level

Well... One eyed man is always the King in the land of the blind......

We commend him in comparison with others.....

What happened to oil producing state that they can't pay minimum wage especially Wicked Wike!

just an announcement and people have stated jubilating...let them send the first alert, then we can confirm it...

Why are they jubilating as if the new minimum wage can buy the 2 iPhones I have for sale

iPhone XR and 8+ both 64GB and Chip Unlock. You can contact me on Whatsapp/Call - Zero703818757one

Check signature or profile for more info

Commendable

Step in the right direction, but they should increase it to 70k in the next 2 years. Rather than paying minimum wage, they should be paying a living wage.

How far with our southern governors? Or are they waiting for people to blame buhari for not transmitting the minimum wage letter to them?

Minimum wage that is suppose to be 50k sef pheew

So what's still Buhari's reason ?

In our constitution failure to pay suppose
To attract FG getting sued but here we re
Person wey no listen to court order, na him
We won sue, wat a waste of time.

We've been scammed
12months now they haven't implement police
Salaries. Too bad

We are waiting for Akwa Ibom with the Highest Federal Allocation

good

Albert444:
y

Z,, spacebookers association

What is really happening to the governors of the south. Why are the Northern governors paying the minimum wage while the southern governors with the economy and oil money are still sleeping.

This is starting to look like a curse or maybe someone can please explain to me.

ManirBK:
What happened to oil producing state that they can't pay minimum wage especially Wicked Wike!

Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Abia, and Ondo. The citizens of these states have forsaken their future to the demons ruling them.

Nonsense

niger delta will never grow even if this country starts allowing States to control their resources..
with the leaders niger delta have ...hmmmm
ordinary 30k they hard them..
oil producing state my black ass

Albert444:

Z

.

These are states that are considered to be backward and not entitled to the oil money.

We are waiting for the rest of the states that are literates, gets 13% of the total allocation

Also Mr Lagos the richest among the rest. This is the time for Sanwo olu fulfil the direct translation of his name.

[s]

YorubaHero12:
What is really happening to the governors of the south. Why are the Northern governors paying the minimum wage while the southern governors with the economy and oil money are still sleeping.

This is starting to look like a curse or maybe someone can please explain to me.

[/s]

I need someone to tell me how much the corps members now receive as allowee.

No be Federal govt signed the minimum wage?

Government and state wey sabi not like my state Abia which is the most back ward state in the country,with a worst governor
I learnt he uses walking stick to walk this days

ok

valentineuwakwe:
just an announcement and people have stated jubilating...let them send the first alert, then we can confirm it...

yes they paid the minimum wage on friday and not only to junior staff but to all the civil servant of the state confirm

Good and welcome development

Good

well done bagudu..

k