Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has announced the approval of a new minimum wage of ₦75,000 for workers in the state, surpassing the federal minimum wage of ₦70,000. The new wage will take effect in November 2024, alongside the clearing of three months’ salary arrears.

The announcement was made on Monday at the State Secretariat following a meeting with representatives of organised labour. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, issued a statement detailing the new wage policy and its implementation.

Governor Alia stated, “We are implementing a new national minimum wage of seventy-five thousand naira (₦75,000). We decided to set the wage at ₦75,000, fully aware of the other concerns raised by organised labour during the negotiations. These concerns included a wage award of ₦35,000, transportation allowances, tax relief, and work-off days, among others.”

He explained that the decision to set the minimum wage higher than the federal benchmark was made in response to workers’ concerns and to demonstrate the administration’s commitment to improving employee welfare. The governor also highlighted that the payment of arrears and the higher minimum wage were designed to mitigate the economic challenges faced by workers.

Governor Alia’s move has been lauded as a significant step toward addressing workers’ financial hardships and fostering improved relations between the state government and organised labour.