- Safiu Kehinde
In contrast to the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has agreed to pay N85,000 as minimum wage for workers in the state.
Sanwo-Olu made this disclosure while speaking at an interview on Channels TV, Politics Today program on Wednesday.
He gave the high cost of living in the state as reason behind the minimum wage increment above the amount approved by the Federal Government.
“I am glad to let you know that the minimum wage for Lagos which we conversed and discussed with our union is N85,000 today,” Sanwo-Olu said on the programme.
“It is not a competition, so I am not going to say we are paying more than some other people, it is a function of affordability and it is a function of capacity, but we know too well that when people live in Lagos, Lagos has a premium in terms of even the cost of living, we are fully aware.”
“We actually increased salaries earlier in the year and deserving so for our staff and we will continue to do that.” Sanwo-Olu said.
He, however, hinted the possibility of further increment to N100,00 by January 2025 as he reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare of workers in the state.
“I would like to come back to you in January to say I have been able to increase the minimum wage of Lagos to N100,000 not because I want to make anybody look bad, it is really because I want my people to have a living wage, I want them to really be able to know that government is working for them,” he added.