April 09, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Sokoto State have debunked reports alleging that the state is yet to implement the new ₦70,000 minimum wage, describing such claims as “misleading and completely untrue.”
At a joint press briefing held in Sokoto on Wednesday, the State Chairman of the NLC, Aliyu Abdullahi Jangale, and his NULGE counterpart, Ibrahim Abubakar Giro, took exception to a statement attributed to the National President of NULGE, Ali Haruna Kankara, which listed Sokoto among states yet to implement the new wage regime.
The labour leaders insisted that Sokoto was, in fact, among the first states in the federation to fully implement the ₦70,000 wage structure as early as January 2025.
“Workers across all levels — State, Local Government, and Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) — have been receiving the new minimum wage since January. Any claim to the contrary is unfounded,” Jangale declared.
The NLC chairman expressed disappointment over what he described as a misrepresentation by the national leadership, urging union leaders to verify facts before making public statements.
“It is disheartening that such misinformation emanated from our national president. We expected a more fact-based approach,” he said.
Jangale also commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his proactive stance on workers’ welfare, describing him as “the most worker-friendly governor in Nigeria.”
He noted that the current administration not only implemented the new wage but also carried out significant reforms to ensure transparency in the state’s payroll system.
“We participated in the payroll verification committee that helped identify and eliminate ghost workers. This was a major step in preparing for the new salary structure,” he added.
The unions further applauded the state government for clearing a backlog of gratuities and pensions amounting to billions of naira, restoring financial autonomy to agencies, and ensuring the prompt payment of salaries.
“Governor Ahmed Aliyu didn’t just follow President Tinubu’s directive — he led the way in implementation. We are proud of the progress made under his leadership,” Jangale said.
The union leaders reassured workers that their rights and welfare remain a top priority and urged the media to verify facts before disseminating reports that affect the lives of citizens.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
