Just In: Kaduna Govt Fixes Date To Begin Payment Of New Minimum Wage

The administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Monday announced that it will begin the payment of the new national minimum wage from September 1, 2019.

The State government made this known in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye.

The El-Rufai-led Government, however, noted that the new national minimum wage and consequential adjustments will increase the wage bill of the Kaduna State by 33%.

The statement reads in part: “Guided by the twin principles of ability to pay and sustainability, the government considered several scenarios, bearing in mind the trend of internally generated revenues and allocations from the federation account.

“Several salary scenarios were considered, and one option was identified as the most prudent. A final decision was suspended as negotiations for a new national minimum wage appeared to gather momentum.

“It was reactivated after the Federal Government announced the new national minimum wage in April 2019.

“Paying the new national minimum wage and consequential adjustments will increase the wage bill of the Kaduna State Government by 33%. Gross monthly salary outlay will rise to N3.759bn from the current N2.827bn.

“This almost N1bn monthly increase in the wage bill means that salary and pension commitments will take the lion’s share of state government expenditure.

“Meeting these salary obligations while meeting development objectives for citizens will further raise the pressure to expand and deepen revenue sources and collections.

“According to the new wage structure, the lowest-paid workers in the civil service enjoyed increments of as much as 67%. Middle-ranking officers from Grade 10 to 14 were awarded increments of 60%.”