Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced that his administration will implement a new minimum wage of N85,000 for workers in the state.
Sanwo-Olu made the announcement during a live interview on Channels TV on Wednesday evening, in a programme titled “One-on-One with Babajide Sanwo-Olu.”
In his remarks, he expressed satisfaction in sharing the news about the wage increase, stating, “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.”
The governor clarified that the decision to increase the minimum wage is based on the financial capacity of the state rather than competition with other states.
“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,” Sanwo-Olu explained.
Looking ahead, he hinted at the possibility of a further increase in 2025, stating, “I want to come back to you in January and say that I’ve been able to increase the minimum wage in Lagos to N100,000. Not because I want to make anybody look bad, but because I want my people to have a living wage.”
Sanwo-Olu emphasised his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the government serves the interests of the people. He highlighted that his government would work diligently to manage expenditures effectively so that workers receive salaries that meet their needs.
“We’ll tighten areas where serious expenses are not needed, so we can give them (the workers) commensurate things that will take them home, not drop them at the bus stop,” he added.
This announcement comes amid ongoing discussions between various state governments and organised labour regarding the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
