The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced an increase in the minimum wage for Lagosian civil servants from N70,000 to N85,000.

Sanwo-Olu made the announcement during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

“I’m glad to let you know that the minimum wage for Lagos, which we have discussed with our union, is N85,000 today,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He stated that the increase was not to compete with other states but to help residents cope with the high cost of living in Lagos.

“It is not a competition. I am not going to say that we are paying more than some people; it is a function of affordability and capacity,” Sanwo-Olu added.

The governor acknowledged the country’s economic struggles, saying, “We know too well that when people live in Lagos, Lagos has a premium in terms of the cost of living. We are fully aware.”

Sanwo-Olu expressed plans to further increase the minimum wage to N100,000, revealing that civil servants in the state had already received salary increases earlier in the year.

“I will want to come back in January and say that I have been able to increase the minimum wage of Lagos to N100,000, not because I want to make anybody look bad, but because I want my people to have a living wage,” he said.

His recent action elicited reactions from Nigerians on social media. While some appreciated the governor for his consideration, others questioned him over his inability to increase the minimum wage beyond N100,000, knowing that the state is capable.

Read the posts below.

@SaintAmaru: Definitely the best governor in Nigeria.

@RegardlessH: He thinks he has done well

@VicoZamani: 8k difference with other small state that didn’t have half revenue of Lagos? Lagos can do better than that.

@Chimacoeche: Lagos is capable of paying N200k minimum wage

@Govmentson: Lagos is far ahead. Thanks to Asiwaju

@starpickng: Working govt. He will soon build Nigeria the same way he built Lagos

@olacokers: That’s still less than $2.5 per day Mr Governor.
Can a civil servant with an average family of four survive on N4000/day, that’s the question Mr Governor? At all at all na something sha.

@EvoguoXu: Bag of rice 135K

@bizwina: This is good. Well done sir

@Hajisola1: Good move Sanwo