Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has approved the implementation of a new minimum wage of ₦75,000 for civil servants, effective November 2024.

The governor made the announcement during a press briefing following a closed-door meeting with the state’s Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), which includes the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and affiliated unions.

In addition to the wage increase, Governor Alia also approved the payment of three months’ salary arrears owed to workers by the previous administration.  The meeting, held at the state secretariat, was attended by members of the JNC, Governor Alia, and key members of his cabinet. After deliberations lasting about an hour, journalists were invited to the briefing where the decision was made public.

Speaking on the development, the chairman of the Joint Negotiation Council commended the governor for his commitment to improving workers’ welfare and pledged the council’s support for efficient service delivery in the state.  This move marks a significant step toward improving the livelihood of Benue’s civil servants and addressing long-standing issues of wage arrears in the state.