Lagos State Raises Minimum Wage to N85,000, Plans Increase to N100,000 by 2025

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has revealed his administration's plan to increase the minimum wage for state workers to N85,000. He made this announcement during an interview on Channels TV titled "One-On-One with Babajide Sanwo-Olu" on Wednesday evening.

Speaking on the issue of wages, the governor stated, "I'm pleased to inform you that the minimum wage in Lagos, which has been discussed with our labor unions, is now N85,000." Sanwo-Olu clarified that this decision is not meant to compete with other states but is based on what the state's budget and resources can sustain.

He also shared his vision for the future, expressing a desire to further increase the wage to N100,000 by January 2025. "Earlier this year, we raised salaries, and we plan to continue doing so. I look forward to announcing in January that we've raised the minimum wage in Lagos to N100,000. This is not about outshining anyone, but ensuring our workers have a wage they can live on."

Sanwo-Olu emphasized that his government is focused on ensuring that the state's workforce feels supported and that any cuts to unnecessary expenditures will be redirected towards helping workers. "We want to make sure our workers are compensated well enough to meet their needs, not just to get them halfway," he added.

This development in Lagos comes as other states in Nigeria are also in talks about increasing their minimum wages. Negotiations between the Oyo State Government and labor unions are set to commence soon to discuss the implementation of the new N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, in Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun has approved a new minimum wage of N77,000. This decision was made following discussions between the state government, led by Secretary to the Government Tokunbo Talabi, and labor union representatives. The new wage is expected to be implemented starting in October 2024.

These changes across various states reflect ongoing efforts by governments to improve the wages and welfare of public sector workers in line with national standards.