The Bayelsa State Government has officially approved a minimum wage of N80,000 for local government council workers, following advocacy by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The decision comes after prolonged discussions and negotiations with key stakeholders.
Announcing the development on Tuesday at the Government House in Yenagoa, Acting Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo addressed a meeting involving members of the state minimum wage implementation committee, local government chairmen, and representatives from various labor unions, including the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).
Ewhrudjakpo confirmed that the state would include adjustments from November’s wage template in the December salaries. He called on labor unions to finalize their computations under the consequential adjustment principle and harmonize them with the government’s figures for seamless implementation.
“The decision to pay N80,000 minimum wage was unanimously agreed upon by all stakeholders, including the council chairmen,” Ewhrudjakpo said. He further acknowledged the challenges of adopting the federal government’s payment template due to the state’s limited financial capacity.
The acting governor also addressed pensioners’ concerns, revealing that the state had already approved a N10,000 across-the-board increase in pensions while pledging to consider the federal circular for further adjustments.
Ewhrudjakpo urged labor leaders to be mindful of the state’s broader financial obligations, which extend beyond wages to essential public services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. “We need to balance the survival of Bayelsa State and the welfare of workers as we negotiate,” he stated.
In response, NLC Chairman Comrade Simon Barnabas commended the government for implementing the new minimum wage. However, he urged the state to adopt the federal government’s template for adjustments and increase pensioners’ payments to align with federal guidelines.
