Days after a petrol tanker explosion claimed the lives of about 200 residents in Jigawa State, the state governor, Umar Namadi has announced a new minimum wage of ₦70,000 for civil servants in the state.

The latest development was made known during the submission of a report from the state’s minimum wage committee at the Government House in Dutse.

The committee said the report considered several critical factors, including the current inflation rates and the necessity to maintain a motivated and efficient workforce amidst economic uncertainties.

After reviewing the report, Governor Namadi announced the new minimum wage and also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of the state’s workforce.

“We are resolved to pay our workers ₦70,000 as the new minimum wage,” he stated during the announcement.

The governor explained that the increment aims to alleviate the financial challenges faced by civil servants and is reflective of the economic and fiscal capabilities of the state.

He assured workers of a swift implementation of the new wage.

This latest development comes days after a petrol tanker exploded in the state leaving about 200 people dead and many injured.

On Tuesday while briefing President Bola Tinubu on the incident at the State House, Abuja, Namadi disclosed that 181 people died and 210 families were affected in the tanker explosion.

The tanker, laden with petrol exploded at Majiya town, along the Kano-Hadejia expressway in Taura LGA of Jigawa state.

The governor told the president that 80 people were hospitalised due to the incident, adding that the state government has paid their bills.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has validated a new minimum wage package of N80,000 for workers in the employment of the state government.

Eno has joined other states including Lagos, Edo, Rivers among others who had taken steps to pay their employees the new minimum wage.

Investors King had reported that the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Union had signed a Memorandum of Understanding for N70,000 as least amount to be earned by Nigerian workers, especially those employed by civil authorities.

Some other states including Osun, Oyo, Zamfara among others have not announced the amounts they would be paying their workers.

Making the approval of the N80,000 minimum wage known on Wednesday, Governor Eno also constituted an implementation committee for the smooth kick-off of the new wage regime with the Head of the Civil Service (HoCS), Elder Effiong Essien, as Chairman.

According to the governor, the committee has one month ultimatum to deliver its report on the wage increase harmonisation.

The Commissioner for Information of Akwa Ibom, Comrade Ini Ememobong, while addressing newsmen, listed other members of the committee to include the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) and Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Finance and Department of Establishments.

Others are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning; Permanent Secretary/Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice; Permanent Secretary/Accountant General; Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission (LGSC); Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Civil Service; Director of Budget and the State Chairman, Joint Public Service Negotiating Council.

The list also has the Secretary, Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council; State Chairperson, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); State Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the State President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) as members.

Workers in Osun have expressed dissatisfaction over Governor Ademola Adeleke’s failure to implement the newly approved minimum wage especially as governors of many other states have approved the increase.

In a chat with journalists in Osogbo on Monday, October 21, some workers in the state aired their frustration with the state government.

Investors King reported that some states including Lagos, Rivers, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, among others, have announced an increased in the minimum wage of civil servants.

In Ondo State for instance, on Saturday, October 12, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced a new minimum wage of N73,000 for civil servants in the state.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who revealed the new wage during the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign flag-off in Ondo West Local Government Area, stated that the government has implemented measures, including training programs and timely salary payments, to motivate civil servants.

Similarly, workers in Kogi State received a significant boost in their wages.

During the unveiling ceremony of the new minimum wage on Monday, October 7, Governor Ododo announced an immediate salary increase of N72,500 for civil servants in the state.

Ododo added to the excitement of the workers by announcing a one-year suspension of the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax.

However, in Osun State, the workers revealed that they had waited patiently with hopes that the state government would implement the new wage.

The workers emphasized that the payment of the newly approved wage was long overdue and leaving the workers battling with more hardship.

According to Opemipo, a worker in the state, the economic hardship was becoming unbearable for civil servants in the state.

She urged Governor Adeleke to implement the new wage without delay to lift the burden off the workers.

She said, “I wonder what is causing the delay. Other neighbouring states have implemented theirs, and I wonder what is delaying our own.

”This economic hardship is becoming unbearable, and I appeal to Gov. Adeleke to act fast.”

Another civil servant in the state emphasized that the delay was becoming worrisome.

To him, the new wage may be small, however, it will be of great help to the workers.

He noted that the government is yet to even negotiate the new wage to be paid to the state’s workers.

He ended by saying that the delay reflects the government’s lack of commitment to the welfare of workers in the state.

He said, “We are worried over the delay. No matter how little the minimum wage might be, at least it will assist in fixing one or two things.

“But now that the government is not coming forth with what it is willing to pay, it is a serious source of concern for us.

“States like Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Kwara, Ogun and others have implemented theirs, why Osun?.

“This shows a lack of commitment to the welfare of workers in the state.

“I hope the state government will come out on time to let the workers know their fate.”

The cries of the Osun State workers comes despite assurance by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, that the minimum wage committee would soon complete its assignment.

Meanwhile, The organized labour has expressed dissatisfaction with the continued delay in the implementation of the new minimum wage for workers by some state governors.

A labour leader who spoke with journalists revealed that the union has agreed to wait until the end of October, adding that they will take appropriate action after the ultimatum.