Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has announced a significant increase in the minimum wage for workers in the state, raising it from N40,000 to N70,000.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the newly constructed Labour House secretariat complex for labour unions in Benin City, the state capital.
Named after Adams Oshiomhole, the immediate-past governor of the state and current senator representing Edo North, the Labour House symbolizes a commitment to the welfare of workers.
The decision follows demands from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for a new minimum wage of N615,000 nationwide.
This demand came after Chief Bola Tinubu, represented by Kashim Shettima, established a 37-member panel to recommend a new national minimum wage.
The panel, comprising representatives from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour, was tasked with delivering its recommendations promptly as the current N30,000 minimum wage expired at the end of March 2024.
