KEY POINTS
- Lagos State increases the minimum wage to N85,000 with hope of attaining N100,000 by January 2025.
- Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that the state has the financial capacity and high cost of living as the basis for the wage increment.
- The governor reiterates the pledge to ensure that civil servants are well provided for as they work.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the minimum wage is N85,000 in the state and is expected to be adjusted to N100, 000 in January 2025.
Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos state said this on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, as he assured that Lagos state is financially capable to implement the pay rise.
The capacity and cost of living
In his view on the decision to raise the minimum wage, the governor said that Lagos is in a position to do so because of its economic strength and the high cost of living in Lagos State.
“We understand that you are living in Lagos which is relatively expensive, that is why we have adjusted salaries this year and now we are lifting the minimum wage to N85,000,” he said. “It is not a race with the other states but rather our capacity to assist our workers.”
Sanwo-Olu stated that the N100,000 proposed for January 2025 is not to compete with other states but to enable civil servants in Lagos earn a decent wage. “I want them to really be able to know that government is working for them,” he said.
Future plans for pensioners
Besides the salary raise, Governor Sanwo-Olu revealed that the government of Lagos State is working towards increasing pension in the state to N100,000 for pensioners.
“We are also considering increasing the pension for the retirees to ensure they can afford a decent lifestyle after retiring from service,” he said.
According to Vanguard, the wage increase is part of the state’s measures to enhance the standards of living of its workers given the cost of living in Lagos, one of the most costly cities in Nigeria.
