₦airaland Forum

•LG workers, teachers in Zamfara, C’River, Abia, others yet to get minimum wage

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Alhaji Haruna Kankara, on Sunday, said about 20 states have yet to implement the N70,000 new minimum wage for local government workers and primary school teachers.

The states include Yobe, Gombe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Borno and 11 others.

The NULGE leader disclosed this in response to questions from The PUNCH on the implementation of the new minimum wage with reference to the LG workers and primary school teachers in the country.

Following the signing of the Minimum Wage Act, 2024 into law, about 20 states commenced the implementation of the new wage law.

The states included Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Jigawa, Gombe, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi and others.

President Bola Tinubu signed the N70,000 minimum wage bill into law on July 29, 2024, after months of negotiations with labour unions.

The new monthly minimum wage was raised by 133 percent from N30,000 to N70,000, amid the economic hardship in the country.

Giving an update on the implementation of the law, Kankara said, “We truly have the challenge of so many states, like about 20 that have not started implementing the new minimum wage.

“We have states like Sokoto, Yobe, Gombe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Imo, Ebonyi, Borno, Cross Rivers, FCT Abuja, among others. Some have started paying the state workers leaving out the local government workers and primary school teachers but we have continued to engage and plead with them to do the needful for these workers.

“Some of them promised but failed to fulfil their promise but we are hoping that just very soon all of these would have been resolved.”

On the implementation of the LG autonomy, the NULGE leader explained that the Central Bank has yet to communicate with the councils on the opening of bank accounts.

“What the union has always demanded is for the Central Bank of Nigeria to issue a circular for the local government to open an account with them but up till now, that is yet to be done,” he disclosed.

The Kwara State President of NULGE, Seun Oyinlade, said the state government started paying the N70,000 to the state workers in October 2024.

However, he lamented that the heavy taxation imposed by the government on the workers has reduced the workers’ take home pay.

“The implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approved for the workers in the state have been implemented for local government staff since October 2024 but the heavy taxes imposed by the state government have greatly affected the take home pay of our members.

“When the state branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress appealed to the state government to reduce the taxes, the government only gave the workers three months of tax relief, which has ended in December 2024 but the government has started deducting the tax since January,” he added.

The NLC state chairman, Muritala Olayinka, confirmed that the state government had started payment of the new salary to all categories of workers in the state.

He noted, “The Kwara State government started the implementation of the new minimum wage to all categories of workers since October last year and all workers have started enjoying the new salary.

“Although the workers complained of high taxation which the NLC made an appeal for one year tax holiday but the government only approved three months tax holiday for the workers which had ended in December.

“The congress had since written a letter to the governor for the extension of the tax holiday. We are waiting for a reply from the government, and we hope it is going to be positive.”

A teacher in Sokoto confirmed that the state government has implemented the new minimum wage for teachers and local government workers in the state.

Abdullahi Umar said all the workers in the state have been enjoying the new salaries since January.

“We have been paid the new minimum wage with effect from January. Although the implementation was delayed due to FAAC allocation. We received the January and February payment a few weeks ago,” he said.

An LG worker, Usman Abdullah, corroborated Umar, stating that N50,000 was added to their old salary.

“They added N50,000 naira to our salary, but the last minimum wage of N30,000 naira was not implemented at the local government level. This administration added N 50,000 to our old salary as our minimum wage benefit,’’ he pointed out.

Meanwhile, data obtained from the National Union of Teachers revealed that some teachers have yet to be paid the N30,000 minimum wage of 2019.

The data revealed that Zamfara, Yobe, Taraba, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Kaduna, Imo, Gombe, Cross River, Borno, Benue, Adamawa and Abia State have yet to implement the N30,000 minimum wage for teachers.

Some LG teachers appealed for the Federal Government’s intervention.

A teacher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of victimization, said, “For us in Yobe, we haven’t even benefited from the previous minimum wage, how can someone who didn’t even enjoy N30,000 talk of enjoying the N70,000. We appeal to the president to please intervene.”

A teacher in the Bwari Area Council of the FCT lamented the neglect of the LG workers and teachers by the FCT Administration.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said, “In FCT, not only teachers are involved but all other categories of LG workers. Last month, we went on strike, and we resumed after a few days due to negotiation. It is so unfair the way LG workers are being treated in this country.’’

On March 24, 2025, teachers in public primary schools in the FCT embarked on the fourth strike in four months.

The teachers boycotted the classes twice in December last year and once in February this year.

They were protesting the non-implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage by the chairmen of the six area councils.

The latest strike disrupted the second term examinations in most of the schools across the six area councils.

Announcing the strike in a communique issued at the end of an emergency State Wing Standing Committee meeting, the teachers emphasised that one of the critical agreements reached during previous negotiations was the implementation of the new minimum wage for primary school teachers in February 2025, which formed the basis for suspending the previous strike.

The union expressed disappointment over the payment process, stating, “The payment of February salary by the councils without recourse to the union and the New Minimum Wage is disturbing, disheartening, and lacking in sympathy for the plight of primary school Teachers in the FCT.”

The SWSC questioned the ongoing financial burden on teachers, asking, “Why the continuous impoverishing of the impoverished? Why impose continuous hardship and suffering on the teachers and their families? Enough Is Enough!”

The communique outlined several demands, including immediate implementation of the national minimum wage in February salaries, with the payment of the differential between the old and new wages.

It demanded “The payment of March salaries according to the new minimum wage; Disbursement of six months’ worth of minimum wage arrears as previously agreed and immediate steps towards implementing various allowances, including a 40 percent peculiar allowance and additional salary increases.’’

The National President of the NUT, Titus Amba and Secretary General, Mike Ene, could not be reached for comment on Sunday as calls to their phones indicated they were switched off.

The Secretary-General of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Mohammed Abubakar, told The PUNCH that state commissioners of finance were frustrating the direct payment of allocation to the councils, which has affected the finances of the LGAs.

Source: https://punchng.com/20-governors-under-fire-for-delaying-n70k-minimum-wage/

The NLC should swing into action by picketing the states' government Houses & LG offices. The governors & chairmen should not be allowed to move anywhere until they give a firm commitment, in writing and statewide broadcasts, to begin paying the already useless and fradulently implemented minimum wage.

Kwara gives with one hand, and takes with the other hand.

Akwa Ibom why?

Wike the drunkard, I can see FCT there.

And the one that Paid workers 85000 was removed by Tinubu

But Peter Obi and his urchins will still blame Tinubu for it.

APC State are mostly the ones that are yet to implement it.

Evil party

Adeleke of osun minimum wage formula is the highest in Nigeria after maybe, Lagos. Imagine a level 8 primary school teacher getting over 150k as salary. Bricklayers in osun are balling hard rt now. Building construction everywhere all thanks to Demola.

Demola second term election is already sealed.

NLC the toothless Bull dog 🐕 will only do a few days gragra, collect their share and back out, leaving the workers to fend for themselves.

Nigeria we hail thee

Imo and ebonyi governors 😏
Tueh ...
APC is truly cursed

What fire? Mtcheeew Governors who probably BALLED all through the weekend

🫤

Even Wike Abuja has not started making payment. Wike will never priorities human development. He rather build road then to build human capacity. If humans are not developed with ever you do becomes useless. A whole the Federal Capital cannot pay minimum wage. It's a shame to the presidency, the both chambers and Wike as a person.

In the East,it is the APC states of IMO and Ebonyi that have refused to pay it and across Nigeria is mainly APC states whom are delaying its implementation with a few PDP states...what does that tell you?
What reason does Hope Ozodinma of Imo state have,he was never prepared to govern but supreme court decided otherwise and the abracadabra was done,now the innocent workers are paying the price of judiciary mischief.

Even FCT Abuja is among the lists.,...shame to wike that cannot pay.. tomorrow they will say wike is working

Lol please no vex wike he fit starts paying 100k

SatoshiX:
But Peter Obi and his urchins will still blame Tinubu for it.

FCT is not paying minimum wages yet directly under tinubu watch

LG workers, teachers in Zamfara, C’River, Abia, others yet to get minimum wage

Source: https://punchng.com/20-governors-under-fire-for-delaying-n70k-minimum-wage/

If your state is among those owing, will you ask your state lawmaker to intervene and ensure the budget includes provision to pay these workers

ufotunang:
Even FCT Abuja is among the lists.,...shame to wike that cannot pay.. tomorrow they will say wike is working

AustineE1:
In the East,it is the APC states of IMO and Ebonyi that have refused to pay it and across Nigeria is mainly APC states whom are delaying in its implementation...what does that tell you?

Was Bwala right about what happens to the brain of those who join the winchious broom party

dre11:
Joining APC Makes the Brain Stop Working’ and 4 More Daniel Bwala Anti-Tinubu Remarks

There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy: hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny. – Frederick William Robertson

Daniel Bwala, a staunch critic of President Tinubu, his administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been seen frolicking with the President in recent days, which has infuriated the public.

For his past statements against the APC, Bwala, who was a spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council during the 2023 elections, has now drawn backlash.

He was an APC member until he defected to the PDP in 2022. He would later cite the ruling party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket as the reason for his exit.

While announcing his decision on X on July 10, 2022, Bwala wrote: “Tonight I officially resigned my membership of @OfficialAPCNg on principles and conviction that I hold so dear. At this time of our national existence, our efforts and energy should gravitate towards uniting our people.”

There are now speculations that he may return to the APC. He held a meeting with President Tinubu on Wednesday “to show appreciation and support for the bold decisions he is taking to deal with the crisis confronting [the] country”, and he revealed that he would support Tinubu without apologies, even if it meant going back to the APC.

Amid ongoing controversies surrounding Bwala’s recent interactions with the President, FIJ revisits five times in the past when he criticised the APC-led administration.

‘EVEN IF YOU GIVE TINUBU 30 YEARS, NOTHING WILL WORK‘

On December 25, 2023, Bwala expressed scepticism about President Tinubu’s ability to deliver within his four-year term. He argued that waiting for significant changes under Tinubu’s administration might not be feasible.

Bwala said, “When people talk about being patient and waiting, you have to look at the time frame the public officer is expected to execute the work. The President has just been voted into a term of four years. He is eight months into the term, which constitutes 31.8 percent of the total time that he has. He has less than 70 percent time in government; when is that going to happen? When President Buhari took over in 2015, it was the same language, and we patiently followed and he finished the first term and finished the second term. When there is a fundamental problem with policy, time is irrelevant; 30 years, it will not work.”

‘TINUBU’S CABINET MEMBERS WON’T PERFORM MORE THAN 15%‘

In August 2023, Bwala said that the cabinet members appointed by Tinubu would not perform beyond 15 percent because the President seemed more focused on politics than governance.

“I feel that when it comes to the number of ministers, he (Tinubu) was more particular about politics than governance. The number of governors in the cabinet and the portfolios assigned to some individuals were purely political. I don’t have an expectation of a performance that is going to be beyond 15 percent, looking at the cabinet members,” he said.

‘TINUBU IS PRESIDENT-SELECT, NOT PRESIDENT-ELECT’

In May 2023, Bwala said Tinubu was the ‘president-select’, and not the ‘president-elect’. He said Tinubu was selected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as their preferred candidate.

His words: “Now we are in court to say that it was a rigged process. As long as there is no final determination of the matter, we have every right under law, equity and justice to hold the opinion that we express that he is a president-select and not a president-elect.”

‘THE PDP CLEARLY WON THE ELECTION BUT APC RIGGED IT‘

Following the 2023 presidential polls, Bwala said his party won the election and alleged that the APC rigged it to emerge as the winner.

Bwala, who disclosed this in an interview with Arise TV in March 2023, said, “We clearly won. In fact, if these results were allowed to be read from the result sheet, we won with over 1 million vote. Nigerian people voted PDP as the winner of this election, but history and posterity is the one that will judge.”

‘JOINING APC MAKES THE HUMAN BRAIN STOP WORKING’

Bwala made a post on X in November 2022: “The human brain is unique and miraculous. It works and functions optically 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, until you join APC, then it stops working.”

Since his post resurfaced on Thursday amid his unabashed declaration of support for the APC, Bwala’s cognitive abilities have been questioned by Nigerians.

An X user with the handle @chymaker wrote, “His brain stopped working.”

Another X user @Morris_Monye, wrote, “There’s something wrong with this man’s brain.”

“Your brain didn’t take that long to stop working. Either you forgot to go for an annual checkup or your network is not as strong as you think. Whatever the case is, learn to clean your mouth,” wrote @Gary_Mazi


SOURCE

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OriOko88:

Adeleke of osun minimum wage formula is the highest in Nigeria after maybe, Lagos. Imagine a level 8 primary school teacher getting over 150k as salary. Bricklayers in osun are balling hard rt now. Building construction everywhere all thanks to Demola.

Demola second term election is already sealed.

How sure are you of this information that Adeleke is paying so well all the workers in the state?

I thought that APC said he has only been dancing and looting the state

Before opening the thread, I knew that Imo state will be there..
The SINS of the Supreme Court will NEVER be forgiven in Imo State.
Hope Uzodimma will never pay teachers well even if he gets a trillion naira every week as state allocation.
They will sit Abuja and inflict one Oyenusi or Anini on a state, then sit back and mock the same State for not progressing..

owobokiri:
Before opening the thread, I knew that Imo state will be there..
The SINS of the Supreme Court will NEVER be forgiven in Imo State.

Hope Uzodimma will never pay teachers well even if he gets a trillion naira every week as state allocation.
They will sit Abuja and inflict one Oyenusi or Anini on a state, then sit back and mock the same State for not progressing..

AustineE1:
In the East,it is the APC states of IMO and Ebonyi that have refused to pay it and across Nigeria is mainly APC states whom are delaying its implementation with a few PDP states...what does that tell you?

What reason does Hope Ozodinma of Imo state have,he was never prepared to govern but supreme court decided otherwise and the abracadabra was done,now the innocent workers are paying the price of judiciary mischief.

What of your own state lawmaker in Imo?
Was he also imposed by the Supreme Court

anonimi:
How sure are you of this information that Adeleke is paying so well all the workers in the state?

I thought that APC said that he has been dancing and looting the state only

My friend is a civil servant in osun. He told me his salary. 158k. A level 8 sch teacher.

Don't mind those APC propagandists. They're only bitter they lost osun

Dhoneymix:
Kwara gives with one hand, and takes with the other hand.

kwara only added flat 35k to formal salary. Only level 1-5 is enjoying the minimum wage. That's why level 2 with primary school cert is earning around 74k per month and level 8 with B.sc is earning around 78k per month. Teaching in Nigeria is slavery. Most teachers are living on loans. I can never advice any young man to join teaching.

SatoshiX:
But Peter Obi and his urchins will still blame Tinubu for it.

but most of the states defaulting are apc governed
Anyways y’all are brain dead

Thank God my state no follow.

anonimi:
What of your own state lawmaker in Imo?
Was he also imposed by the Supreme Court

Goan take your medications 💊 first..
You will ask better questions after that..
Right now I'm not in any mood to dignify the rants of some tribal ants with a precious response ..
You bulaabaa irritant!

NOI
INEC
NIMC
alot of FG parastatals are yet to pay the new minimum wage and you're calling out state governors?

NLC has left it's primary assignment to pursue taking over LP structure.

This is not about APC or PDP or any party, it's about how wicked and corrupt individuals are

Rootprof:
kwara only added flat 35k to formal salary. Only level 1-5 is enjoying the minimum wage. That's why level 2 with primary school cert is earning around 74k per month and level 8 with B.sc is earning around 78k per month. Teaching in Nigeria is slavery. Most teachers are living on loans. I can never advice any young man to join teaching.

You're not wrong! That profession keeps losing committed enthusiats every day