Primary school teachers, local government employees, and primary healthcare workers in Kaduna State are yet to benefit from the N72,000 minimum wage in the state.
Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Kaduna said, the minimum wage has yet to be effected at the local government level where primary school teachers, local government employees, and primary healthcare workers fall under.
He said this is why there are discrepancies in some LGAs by NGIJ, where teachers are still receiving salaries based on the old wage structure.
The chairperson noted that the implementation of the new ₦72,000 minimum wage for state civil servants has already commenced in Kaduna State, beginning with workers on Grade Levels 1–6 in the state civil service, stressing that workers within this category have since been placed on the new wage structure, as what remains is the consequential adjustment across other cadres and salary structures.
He noted that following the constitution of the Consequential Adjustment Committee by the Kaduna State Government on Tuesday, 22nd October 2024, under the Chairmanship of the then Head of Service, Hajiya Habiba A. Shekarau, negotiations were concluded to address the consequential adjustment applicable to the broader civil service.
He explained that the NLC embarked on a strike action on 2nd December 2024 to press home the demand for both the minimum wage and the consequential adjustment, stating that action was suspended on 3rd December 2024 after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, wherein the State Government committed to full implementation.
While implementation for Grade Levels 1–6 has commenced, Suleman said the consequential adjustment for other categories, including tertiary institutions and parastatals, is tied to the ongoing staff and pension verification exercise, pointing out that the government has assured that the process will be concluded within September 2025, and the NLC is holding it accountable to the commitment.
The chairperson said, “It is equally important to note that earlier this month, the State Government demonstrated commitment by adopting the new salary tables for CONMESS and CONHESS, thereby adjusting the wages of health workers in line with the ₦72,000 framework.
“However, we must also acknowledge the gaps that remain. The minimum wage has not yet been effected at the local government level where primary school teachers, local government employees, and primary healthcare workers fall under. This explains the discrepancies reported in some LGAs by NGIJ, where teachers are still receiving salaries based on the old wage structure.”
He assured that the NLC is fully aware of the challenges, which also informed the recent strike ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), saying that interestingly, engagements are ongoing, the State Government has already taken steps to address the concerns.
“The NLC’s position remains firm: all categories of workers and pensioners in Kaduna State – state, local government, teachers, health workers, and tertiary institutions must benefit from the ₦72,000 minimum wage and the negotiated consequential adjustments,” he explained.
He called on workers to remain calm and vigilant, while assuring them that the Congress will not relent until full and fair implementation is achieved across board.
