The Kaduna State Government under Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, is the first to implement the N30,000 minimum wage.
Implementation of the minimum wage commenced in the state in September, as civil servants in the state had acknowledged receipt of the new minimum wage and commended Governor El-Rufai’s government.
The state Executive Council had earlier in August risen from its meeting to approve that payment of the new national minimum wage and consequential adjustments to civil servants begins from 1st September, 2019.
The Executive Council meeting, chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, noted the commitment of Governor Nasir El-Rufai to strengthen the public service and its capacity to deliver quality and responsive public service.
The government in a statement issued at the end of the meeting said it was guided by the twin principles of ability to pay and sustainability. “The government considered several scenarios, bearing in mind the trend of internally generated revenues and allocations from the federation account.
“Several salary scenarios were considered, and one option was identified as most prudent. A final decision was suspended as negotiations for a new national minimum wage appeared to gather momentum. It was reactivated after the Federal Government announced the new national minimum wage in April 2019.
“Paying the new national minimum wage and consequential adjustments will increase the wage bill of the Kaduna State Government by 33%. Gross monthly salary outlay will rise to N3.759bn from the current N2.827bn.
“This almost N1bn monthly increase in the wage bill means that salary and pension commitments will take the lion’s share of state government expenditure. Meeting these salary obligations while meeting development objectives for citizens will further raise the pressure to expand and deepen revenue sources and collections.
“According to the new wage structure, the lowest paid workers in the civil service enjoyed increments of as much as 67%. Middle-ranking officers from Grade 10 to 14 were awarded increments of 60%.” It said.