Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced plans to raise the minimum wage for workers in the state from the national minimum of N70,000 to N85,000. During a live interview on Channels TV’s “One-On-One with Babajide Sanwo-Olu” on Wednesday evening, the governor confirmed that the decision had already been discussed with labor unions.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the higher wage reflects the state’s capacity to afford it and addresses the elevated cost of living in Lagos.
“You mentioned minimum wage and what I need to throw in for my people. I’m glad to let you know that the minimum wage for Lagos, which we’ve discussed with our union, is N85,000 today. It’s not a competition, so I’m not going to say that we’re paying more than some other people; it’s a function of affordability and a function of capacity,” the governor said.
He also hinted at the possibility of further wage increases next year. “We increased our salary earlier in the year and would like to come in January and say I’ve been able to increase the minimum wage in Lagos to N100,000,” he added.
The governor’s announcement comes in the wake of several other states approving minimum wages above the national minimum. For instance, Gombe State recently approved N71,451, Ogun State approved N77,000, and Ondo State approved N73,000 for their workers.
In July, President Bola Tinubu approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers and committed to reviewing the wage law every three years. Sanwo-Olu’s announcement aligns with this federal initiative but takes it a step further to address the unique economic conditions in Lagos – Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Sanwo-Olu also discussed plans to expand the state’s transport system, particularly rail, with the goal of connecting all five districts.
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