"Kebbi Governor Sets National Record with N75,000 Minimum Wage"

By Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity

As Nigeria commemorates the 2025 Workers' Day, Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has emerged as a champion of workers' welfare, setting a new national record with the implementation of a N75,000 minimum wage. With his rich background as a former teacher, unionist, and labour leader, Governor Idris has consistently demonstrated his commitment to improving the working conditions and welfare of civil servants in the state.

Since taking office in 2023, Governor Idris has prioritized policies that enhance workers' welfare. One of his earliest notable actions was the prompt settlement of outstanding pension and gratuity arrears. Today, Kebbi State stands out as the only state in Nigeria that is fully up-to-date on pension, gratuity, and death benefit payments for workers across the state, local government councils, and local government education authorities.

"No worker is owed a single kobo in this regard," Governor Idris emphasized during a recent courtesy visit from the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). "My administration has remained steadfast and consistent in the payment of salaries, pensions, gratuities, death benefits, leave grants, and other entitlements. Workers' welfare is of paramount importance to this government. I will never let them down."

The governor's dedication to workers' welfare extends to the healthcare sector. He addressed salary disparities between state-employed medical personnel and their federal counterparts, ensuring that doctors and medical staff now receive comparable salaries to those in federal health institutions.

The implementation of the N75,000 minimum wage, surpassing the national minimum wage of N70,000, has garnered widespread acclaim. The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, lauded the governor's leadership during the official signing ceremony in Birnin Kebbi. "Kebbi is a state where you hear positive news since Kaura assumed power," Ajaero said. "This is a testament to the governor's commitment to workers' welfare and his dedication to creating a conducive work environment."