The Yobe State Government and organised labour in the state have agreed to implement the new national minimum wage of N70,000, effective December 2024.
Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the N70,000 Minimum Wage Committee, Baba Wali, disclosed that after extensive negotiations, the committee recommended the wage increase to Governor Mai Mala Buni, who approved the new pay structure.
“The committee’s resolutions included the approval by the Yobe State Government for the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage for all state civil servants, pensioners, and those on special salary structures, effective from December 2024,” Wali revealed.
Amid calls for a nationwide strike by the NLC’s national body, Yobe State workers have opted out, thanks to an agreement with the state government.
The signing ceremony, held in Damaturu on Friday, was attended by top government officials and labour leaders, including the Head of Civil Service (represented by Dr Bukar Kilo), Permanent Secretary of Public Service Shaibu Ibrahim Amshi, Accountant General Mohammed Alkali Dinkiri, and Yobe State NLC Chairman Comrade Muktar Musa Tarbutu.
Representatives from the Trade Union Congress and the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees also participated.
Yobe NLC Chairman, Muktar Tarbutu, assured workers that the agreement safeguarded their welfare, emphasising that “we will not be joining the strike due to our commitment to the agreement with the State Government to implement the N70,000 minimum wage.”
He further explained that while local government employees were initially included in the new wage structure, unresolved issues with certain local governments necessitated a temporary postponement for further review.
“We urge civil servants to continue with their legitimate activities in the state,” Tarbutu reiterated, underscoring the union’s confidence in the government’s commitment to fulfilling the agreement.
Last Saturday, the Yobe State NLC Chapter described a circular circulating on social media platforms urging Yobe State civil servants to initiate a statewide strike as entirely false and unfounded.
Earlier on October 17, the state government approved the formation of a 10-member committee to address the implementation of the new national minimum wage for civil servants, following its recent approval by the Federal Government.
This was months after it had denied media reports claiming the new minimum wage payment had commenced in August.
“The attention of the Yobe State Government has been drawn to a false and misleading post on social media alleging approval of a new wage,” the statement had revealed then.
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