Kano Governor Approves ₦71,000 Minimum Wage For Civil Servants

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved a new minimum wage of ₦71,000 for civil servants in Kano State.

This development was announced by the Governor on Tuesday at the Government House during the presentation of the Public Service Negotiation Committee Report by the Head of Civil Service for the state.

Governor Yusuf highlighted that the decision to introduce the new minimum wage took into account the substantial workforce in Kano and the financial limitations posed by the state’s low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He noted that implementing the new minimum wage will commence in November 2024.

“Kano state has one of the largest workforces in Nigeria, reflective of our population and specific local needs. Together with our financial constraints, including the low internally generated revenue (IGR) we inherited, we have decided to implement the new national minimum wage of ₦71,000,” the governor stated.

He disclosed that the implementation of the minimum wage would increase the state’s monthly salary obligations by over ₦6 billion, while an additional ₦7 billion would be required for the 44 local government councils.

“Our administration is deeply committed to prioritizing the welfare of our civil servants, who tirelessly provide efficient, effective, and quality services to our people despite limited financial resources,” Yusuf said, stressing that this move reflects his administration’s dedication to social justice and economic growth.

Governor Yusuf also lamented the state’s low IGR, inherited from the previous administration, stating, “We inherited an average monthly IGR of only ₦2 billion. By comparison, states such as Lagos generate an average of ₦54.3 billion, Rivers ₦14.5 billion, Ogun ₦10.1 billion, and Delta ₦7.1 billion.”

He emphasized the need for immediate reforms in the state’s revenue generation strategies to address its increasing obligations.

In his address to the civil servants, Yusuf encouraged them to improve service delivery and pursue innovative approaches to enhance public services.

“Let’s harness our collective strength to drive transformative change and achieve greatness in service,” he said.

The Head of Civil Service, Abdullahi Musa, commended the committee’s efforts in facilitating the effective implementation of the new wage during his presentation of the report. He assured the governor that the process would proceed seamlessly.

In his comments, Kabiru Inuwa, a representative of the civil servants, conveyed appreciation to the governor for his dedication to the welfare of the workforce.

“We thank the governor for approving the minimum wage despite the state civil servants being the most populous in the country,” he said.

Governor Yusuf concluded by urging the state’s workforce to intensify their dedication to productivity and efficiency, aiming for a brighter future for Kano State.