The Borno State Government says it is unable to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage for local government workers due to what it described as “severe overstaffing.” But for workers on the ground, the reality is more dire—some say they are still receiving salaries below ₦20,000 despite the national wage increase.
Speaking on Monday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Modu Alhaji, said the unusually high number of council workers—about 90,000 across 27 local governments—is stalling progress. For comparison, Kano State reportedly has only 30,000 local government staff across its 44 councils.
“Local governments are already overstretched,” Alhaji said. “Maiduguri Metropolitan Council sometimes receives below ₦700 million monthly but requires ₦778 million to pay the new wage.”
Yet, despite two payroll verifications in 2020 that saved ₦237 million monthly, workers say the benefits have not trickled down. “Forget ₦70,000. Are we even enjoying ₦30,000?” asked a worker in Bayo LGA, who pleaded anonymity. “Some of us are still paid less than ₦20,000. Even ₦18,000 hasn’t been implemented in some places. It’s all propaganda.”
Chairman Umar in Biu echoed the frustrations: “We have waited since October last year. Teachers were lucky—they got the wage. But others? We’re forgotten.”
Governor Babagana Zulum, responding to the growing concerns, directed council chairmen to design a realistic implementation strategy but cautioned against retrenchment. “We are not in support of cutting jobs,” he said. “But we must find a way to make the wage work.”
While the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) praised the state for paying primary school teachers ₦72,000 monthly, the broader workforce feels left behind. “As it stands, some local government staff live on less than ₦20,000 a month,” said another staffer. “That’s not just unsustainable, it’s inhumane.”
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