Kaduna Workers To Start Earning N72,000 Minimum Wage November, Bayelsa Gov Budgets N689.4bn For 2025

Workers in the employment of the Kaduna State Government will start earning the sum of N72,000 as minimum wage from November, this year.

This came as Governor Uba Sani approved the new minimum wage of N72,00 and promised continued prioritisation of civil servants’ welfare.

Sani, in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibraheem Musa on Thursday, the decision is in conformity with his lifelong commitment to promoting and protecting workers’ rights.

The governor also promised to improve the living conditions of the poor, vulnerable and underserved in Kaduna.

He also revealed his plan to launch a free transportation scheme for civil servants with the release of 100 CNG buses.

Sani said the free transportation scheme, which included the release of 100 CNG buses, is designed to alleviate the suffering of workers and enhance their productivity.

The governor noted that the buses would convey civil servants to and from work, providing relief from transportation costs while noting that a Joint Management Committee consisting of representatives of organized labour (NLC and TUC) and the State Government will be set up to manage the Free Transportation Scheme for civil servants.

In another development, the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, on Thursday presented a 2025 budget of N689.4 billion, titled the “Budget of Assures Prosperity,” to the State House of Assembly.

He pointed out his administration’s goals for enhanced socio-economic and infrastructure development.

Emphasising on building on the gains and lessons from his first term in office, Diri reiterated his government’s desire to advance the state’s socio-economic and infrastructural landscape.

He said his new mantra, the ‘ASSURED Agenda,’ which outlines seven strategic pillars to drive economic growth, social development, infrastructure improvement, environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and good governance, would be funded through various streams, including an opening balance of N14.2 billion, statutory allocations of N17 billion, VAT estimated at N57 billion, and 13% derivation and refunds amounting to N138.8 billion.

In addition, the governor revealed that the state expects N29.1 billion from excess crude refunds, N103.1 billion from exchange gains, N39 billion from internally generated revenue, N39.4 billion in grants, and N141.4 billion from capital receipts, including electronic money transfers, signature bonuses, cash calls, and loans.

Diri detailed that personnel costs would take N108.34 billion, accounting for 13.3% of total spending, with N91.96 billion for salaries, N19.3 billion for pensions and gratuities, and N3.34 billion for CRFC transfers.

He noted that overheads would consume N79.66 billion, representing 11.55% of the budget, while the total recurrent expenditure stood at N263.38 billion, or 38.2%.

According to him, this category covers grants, contributions, subsidies (N9.15 billion), a 10% SUBEB contribution (N2.5 billion), rural development authorities (N4.5 billion), and public debt servicing (N52.95 billion).

Capital expenditure is set at N404.76 billion, with a planning reserve of N21.3 billion, bringing total capital allocation to N426.07 billion or 61.8% of the budget.

Providing a sector-by-sector breakdown, Diri revealed that N178.76 billion is earmarked for Works and Infrastructure, while Education will receive N35.85 billion. Other allocations include Urban and Housing Development (N13.68 billion), Energy and Power (N14.45 billion), Agriculture (N16.65 billion), Security (N19 billion), Healthcare (N19.19 billion), and Community Development (N10.2 billion).