On Monday, October 28, the Federal Government called on states that have not yet begun paying the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000 to start making those payments right away.
Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made this appeal during a press briefing at the presidential villa in Abuja. He emphasized that the federal government is dedicated to ensuring that all workers receive fair wages, stating, “Quite frankly, the federal government is totally committed to this fully; there’s no half measure about this at all. It’s full.”
Senator Akume highlighted that President Bola Tinubu prioritized the minimum wage issue early in his administration by forming a committee with members from the federal government, state governors, and the private sector. This group worked together to create a new wage standard that everyone agreed upon.
He noted that some states have already begun to implement the wage increase, with a few even exceeding the ₦70,000 mark. “We applaud those who have started. Those who have not started, we just want to appeal to them to start the payment,” he said.
Akume reassured the public of the government’s commitment, stating, “The issue of the new minimum wage has always been central to the thinking of the government of President Bola Tinubu.”
His comments followed a meeting with President Tinubu, which was his first official engagement after recent changes in the cabinet. When asked about the meeting’s purpose, Akume described it as a routine discussion about important state matters.
