Gov. Alia Approves ₦75,000 Minimum Wage For Benue Workers

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has approved ₦75,000 as minimum wage for workers in the state.

The Governor who announced this shortly after a meeting with representatives of the organized labor, said the remaining three months of the five-month backlog of arrears promised to the union will be paid as budgeted in the 2024 budget, along with the minimum wage, effective November 2024.

Alia said, “We are implementing a new national minimum wage of ₦75,000. We decided to set the wage at ₦75,000, fully aware of the other concerns raised by organized labor during the negotiations.

“These concerns included a minimum wage of thirty thousand naira, wage awards, transportation allowances, tax relief, and work-off days, among others.

“Recall that the President had approved the sum of ₦70,000, which we have decided to exceed, considering the concerns raised by organized labor regarding our ability to pay,” he said.

A statement by Sir Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor, quoted Alia as having said that his government is committed to serving the common man, stressing that he will do everything legitimately possible to ensure that the workers of Benue State are properly taken care of.

The Governor further said that his motivation to ensure the arrears are paid is to alleviate the effects of hardship on workers.