[Nigeria] Nine states fail to implement teachers' minimum wage

In Nigeria, months after the minimum wage was officially signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, data exclusively obtained from the National Union of Teachers has revealed that nine states have yet to implement the new minimum wage of N70,000 for teachers, The Punch reports.

President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law on July 29, 2024, following its passage by the National Assembly on July 23, 2024.

Teachers across the Federal Capital Territory reportedly began a more than 100-day strike recently due to the failure of Area Councils to implement the minimum wage for teachers.

According to exclusive reporting from The Punch in October 2024, 12 states of the federation continued to pay teachers - particularly those under the employment of the local government - a N18,000 minimum wage.

The teachers in the affected states had not even benefited from the N30,000 approved by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

Data obtained from the NUT this week showed that Abia State has yet to implement the minimum wage for teachers. In Adamawa, the state had migrated from the N18,000 minimum wage to the N30,000 approved by the late President Buhari, but teachers were yet to see that rise to the new minimum wage of N70,000.

In Ebonyi State, the minimum wage for teachers had not yet been implemented.

For Enugu, according to the NUT, the minimum wage had not been implemented; however, the state government had reportedly added N50,000 to the salaries of workers, including teachers, and labelled it an enhanced wage award.

In Gombe, the minimum wage had not been implemented for primary school teachers. In Kaduna State, the government blamed the non-implementation on the teachers’ verification exercise. In Nasarawa, Yobe, and Zamfara states, the minimum wage had not yet been implemented for teachers, NUT data showed.

The NUT urged states not yet implementing the N70,000 minimum wage to begin doing so without further delay. In addition, the union asked states implementing the new wage to let it reach all categories of teachers.

Titus Amba - the national president of the NUT - said, “Let the minimum wage reach all workers so everyone will feel a part of it.

“It is unfair for those not getting the higher wage, and it will affect the balance of education delivery.” 

Source: The Punch

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Nigeria, months after the minimum wage was officially signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, data exclusively obtained from the National Union of Teachers has revealed that nine states have yet to implement the new minimum wage of N70,000 for teachers, The Punch reports.

President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law on July 29, 2024, following its passage by the National Assembly on July 23, 2024.

Teachers across the Federal Capital Territory reportedly began a more than 100-day strike recently due to the failure of Area Councils to implement the minimum wage for teachers.

According to exclusive reporting from The Punch in October 2024, 12 states of the federation continued to pay teachers - particularly those under the employment of the local government - a N18,000 minimum wage.

The teachers in the affected states had not even benefited from the N30,000 approved by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

Data obtained from the NUT this week showed that Abia State has yet to implement the minimum wage for teachers. In Adamawa, the state had migrated from the N18,000 minimum wage to the N30,000 approved by the late President Buhari, but teachers were yet to see that rise to the new minimum wage of N70,000.

In Ebonyi State, the minimum wage for teachers had not yet been implemented.

For Enugu, according to the NUT, the minimum wage had not been implemented; however, the state government had reportedly added N50,000 to the salaries of workers, including teachers, and labelled it an enhanced wage award.

In Gombe, the minimum wage had not been implemented for primary school teachers. In Kaduna State, the government blamed the non-implementation on the teachers’ verification exercise. In Nasarawa, Yobe, and Zamfara states, the minimum wage had not yet been implemented for teachers, NUT data showed.

The NUT urged states not yet implementing the N70,000 minimum wage to begin doing so without further delay. In addition, the union asked states implementing the new wage to let it reach all categories of teachers.

Titus Amba - the national president of the NUT - said, “Let the minimum wage reach all workers so everyone will feel a part of it.

“It is unfair for those not getting the higher wage, and it will affect the balance of education delivery.” 

Source: The Punch

(Quotes via original reporting)