Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has approved ₦71,000 as the new minimum wage for civil servants in the state, with implementation set to begin in November 2024.
The governor announced this on Tuesday at the Government House during the presentation of the Public Service Negotiation Committee Report by the state’s Head of Civil Service.
Governor Yusuf emphasised that Kano’s large workforce and financial constraints, especially the state’s low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), were considered in the decision to implement the new minimum wage.
“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 called for urgent reforms in the state’s revenue generation strategies to meet its growing obligations.
Addressing the civil servants, Yusuf urged them to enhance service delivery and seek innovative solutions to improve 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, while presenting the report, praised the committee’s work in ensuring the smooth implementation of the new wage. He assured the governor that the process would be handled without complications.
In his remarks, a representative of the civil servants, Kabiru Inuwa, expressed gratitude to the governor for his commitment to workers’ welfare.
“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.
