The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has said state governments have no justification for paying civil servants below the new ₦70,000 minimum wage, citing rising federal allocations and the high cost of living.
NECA Director-General, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday. He noted that the improved revenue inflow from the Federation Account had weakened arguments by some states that they could not afford higher wages.
President Bola Tinubu had in July 2024 signed the new minimum wage bill into law, raising the national minimum from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. Since then, some states have gone above the benchmark. On August 27, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma approved ₦104,000 as minimum wage for workers, while Ebonyi State followed with ₦90,000 the next day.
Smatt-Oyerinde stressed that states should prioritize worker welfare to enhance productivity.
“No state really has an excuse to stay at ₦70,000, especially with people struggling with the price of petrol. Beyond wages, there must be measures to address food security, shelter, and transport costs,” he said.
He argued that hunger, poor housing, and inadequate transport would undermine worker efficiency and weaken reforms.
“If you are hungry, have issues with shelter, or transport, hardly would you be productive at work,” he said.
The NECA boss urged states to view civil servants as the engine of governance and economic growth.
“Workers are not commodities. Whatever improves their welfare also drives productivity and benefits both the public and private sectors,” he added.
