Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi on Monday, approved N72,500 as the new minimum wage for Kogi workers, effective from October 2024.
Ododo gave the approval after receiving report of the Kogi State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee headed by the State Head of Service, Elijah Avenemi, at Government House, Lokoja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor had on Sept. 17, inaugurated Kogi State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee to fashion out the effective modalities to implementing the new minimum wage in the state.
The approved N72,500 minimum wage is N2,500 higher than the N70,000 national minimum wage bill passed by the National Assembly and signed into law in July, by President Bola Tinubu.
The governor also gave tax relief to all the workers in the state for the next one year.
He reaffirmed commitment to the overall welfare of all cadres of workers in the state adding that no Pay-as- you-earn ( PAYE) tax or any form of deductions would be made within the next one year.
“Having been a labour leader and a civil servant before going into partisan politics, I knew what the civil servants were passing through.
“Now that God has made me the governor, I will do all within the state resources to provide succour for the state workforce.
“I cannot forget where I came from, I am a man from a humble background who became who I am by the grace of God. I will therefore, not use my position to oppress anyone but to better the lots of the people.
“You people generously elected me as your governor and the resources of the state belong to you all.
“I am just your chief servant and I will ensure that the resources are allocated to all sectors fairly and equitably,’’ Ododo said.
The governor noted the the committee’s report was a painstaking efforts of the labour leaders and government who conducted staff audit screenings in the previous administration to ensure that genuine workers got their entitlements.
He enjoined the workers to continue to support his administration to succeed, assuring them of continued prompt payment of their salaries.
Earlier, Mr Gabriel Amari, the state’s Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who spoke on behalf of the organised labour, commended the governor for all his efforts.
Amari described Ododo as the best workers-friendly governor the state ever had.
The NLC chairman appreciated the governor for the seamless efforts at which the implementation committee arrived at the new minimum wage.
He noted that some states in the federation were yet to set an implementation committee while that of Kogi, set up on Sept. 17, had come up with a minimum wage that excites the workers.
He promised on behalf of the workers to be more committed to their duties and to cooperate with the governor to carry out his good plans for the state.
