Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced a new minimum wage of N85,000 for state workers, surpassing the N70,000 recently approved by the Federal Government. This decision, he explained, reflects Lagos State’s capacity to afford a higher wage, given the unique cost of living in the metropolitan area.
Sanwo-Olu made the announcement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday. He clarified that the decision to raise the minimum wage wasn’t about competing with other states but was based on Lagos’s financial ability and its higher cost of living.
“I am glad to let you know that the minimum wage for Lagos, which we conversed and discussed with our union, is N85,000 today,” Sanwo-Olu said. “It is not a competition, but a function of affordability and capacity. Lagos, with its cost of living premium, requires such adjustments, and we are fully aware of that.”
The governor further highlighted that this increase follows an earlier salary adjustment made earlier in the year to enhance the welfare of Lagos State workers. In addition, he expressed a strong desire to push the minimum wage even higher to N100,000 by January 2025, should the state’s finances permit.
“I would like to come back in January and announce that we have been able to raise the minimum wage to N100,000, not to make anyone look bad, but because I want Lagos workers to have a living wage. I want them to truly feel that the government is working for them,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
The governor’s announcement comes just months after President Bola Tinubu signed a new minimum wage bill into law in July, setting the national minimum wage at N70,000. The decision followed extensive negotiations between the government, labor unions, and the private sector.
With Lagos now setting its minimum wage above the national benchmark, Sanwo-Olu’s administration is positioning the state as a leader in worker welfare, while also reflecting the economic realities unique to the state.
