Civil servants in Benue State can now smile to the banks after Governor Hyacinth Alia approved a new minimum wage of ₦75,000 for civil servants.

Chief press secretary to Alia, Tersoo Kula said in a statement that the new wage will take effect in November.

The governor made this announcement following a meeting with labour representatives and noted that the remaining three months of the five-month backlog in arrears will be addressed as outlined in the 2024 budget.

“We are implementing a new national minimum wage of ₦75,000,” Alia stated.

“We have set the wage at N75,000, taking into account the concerns raised by organised labour during our negotiations. These concerns included a minimum wage of thirty thousand naira, wage awards, transportation allowances, tax relief, and work-off days, among other issues.”

Alia said that his administration prioritises the welfare of ordinary citizens and is committed to ensuring they receive fair treatment.

He stressed the importance of settling outstanding arrears to help alleviate the hardships faced by workers.

In July, President Bola Tinubu signed a minimum wage bill that raised workers’ pay from N30,000 to N70,000.