The Federal Government has announced that many states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will align with the new national minimum wage by January 2025.

This assurance came from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, during a meeting with the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCN) at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

Addressing concerns from workers, the Minister urged patience, explaining that the ministry has yet to fully determine which states have complied and which have not. He noted that, based on available information, “four or five states were yet to comply with the new minimum wage, while some have complied to varying degrees.”

The Minister also addressed specific concerns from the FCT workers. “The FCT said it will comply with the new minimum wage in January. But your FCT chapter is saying that they want it done right now. I am not sure whether that is fair,” Dingyadi said.

He continued, “Many states are going to do it in January. So, I don’t know why your FCT chapter is not accepting the same January timeline. Since you have raised this issue, we will revisit the matter and consider what can be done, particularly regarding the federal agencies you mentioned. However, you have not provided us with their names. A list of non-compliant agencies will help us address the issue more effectively.”

The Minister assured the union that all outstanding issues, including those involving the Office of the Accountant General and the Federal Civil Service Commission, would be thoroughly reviewed and resolved amicably.

Expressing gratitude to the ASCN delegation for their visit, Dingyadi reaffirmed his commitment to fostering peace, stability, and progress within the civil service. He also appealed to the union’s leadership to lead by example by adopting peaceful and constructive approaches to resolving disputes.