The conversation about the minimum wage and the controversies surrounding it has cast a dark cloud on the future of workers in Nigeria.

This comes after the federal government and Organised Labour appeared to have hit a roadblock in their current new minimum wage negotiations.

While the conversation continues, MyNigeria takes a look at the moment Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, increased the minimum wage for Edo workers from N40,000 to N70,000.

Obaseki made this known in a speech at the inauguration of the Edo State Labour House Complex, a new building to serve as the Secretariat of the Labour Unions in the State.

Obaseki disclosed this while delivering his speech at the inauguration of the Edo State Labour House Complex, a new building to serve as the Secretariat of the Labour Unions in the State.

The governor said: “As a result of the cordial relationship between the Edo State Government and labor unions in the state, we have enjoyed peace and industrial harmony in Edo state.

“Despite our efforts to make life better for Edo State workers, there are forces beyond our control, as we don’t control the national economy, and our workers are still languishing in pain and penury.

“I give you insurance, improve conditions of service, pay you, and promote you on time, but the truth is that because of the economic situation in Nigeria today, our workers continue to be challenged. Devaluation, high food prices, and inflation have made nonsense of the N40,000 we are paying you.

“As a government, we feel your pains and know your take-home pay can barely take you home. We will continue to try. I am one of those governors who believe that we can’t run away from the fact that we must adjust the minimum wage in Nigeria.

“It would have been nice for there to be a central, cohesive, and common approach. We would have expected that by now there should have been a direction as to what the minimum wage will be for workers in Nigeria.

“We don’t know when that will happen. If it happens, fine and if not, as a state, we would need to do what we need to do. For us in Edo State, we have decided to move the minimum wage from N40,000 to N70,000 effective from May 1, 2024.

“I think like a capitalist and not a comrade. In my May Day speech, I will give more details on our new minimum wage. If the federal government imposes something higher, we will make the necessary adjustments.”