Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced that the state will pay its workers a minimum wage of N85,000, exceeding the federal government’s recently approved N70,000.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu clarified that the decision was not about competing with other states but rather a reflection of Lagos’ financial capacity and the higher cost of living in the state.
“I am pleased to inform you that the minimum wage for Lagos, which was discussed and agreed upon with our union, is now set at N85,000,” the governor revealed.
“This isn’t about outdoing anyone. It’s about affordability and what we can sustain. We understand that living in Lagos comes with a premium, and we’re fully aware of the costs associated with that.”
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Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that Lagos State had already increased salaries earlier this year, aiming to ensure that its workers are adequately compensated. He expressed his hope to raise the minimum wage even further to N100,000 by January 2025, emphasizing that the goal is to provide workers with a “living wage.”
“We made salary adjustments earlier in the year because it was necessary, and we will continue to do that. I hope to return in January and announce that we’ve raised the minimum wage to N100,000—not to make anyone else look bad but to ensure that our people know their government is working for them,” he added.
This comes after President Bola Tinubu signed into law the new federal minimum wage of N70,000 in July, following extensive discussions between government officials, labor unions, and the private sector.