Obaseki Laments Over Food Prices, Increases Minimum Wage To N40,000

In a bid to “reduce the hardship that residents feel due to the rising of prices of foodstuff”, the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has increased the state’s minimum wage for workers from N30,000 to N40,000.

The governor made this known on Sunday during during the May Day celebration at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The announcement was received with wild jubilation by the state workers who commended the governor for his efforts for the public and civil service.

The Governor said, “As a government we will continue to prioritize the welfare of workers in the State and sustain every effort to ensure a worker-friendly environment for the workers to be able to perform optimally.

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“For the Edo worker to be effective, we have decided to review upwardly the N30,000 minimum wage of workers so that they can meet their basic needs.”

He explained that his administration is aware of the hardship being experienced by workers, and said that the current minimum wage of N30,000 could barely sustain the Nigerian worker given the harsh economic realities in the country.

“Accordingly, the Government of Edo State has decided to review the minimum wage of Edo workers to N40, 000 a month,” he declared.

While acknowledging the cost implication of the upward wage review, Obaseki assured “we are prepared to make the sacrifices for Edo workers to have a better life.”

He urged workers to engage in agriculture to mitigate the impact of the harsh economy and gave insight into the ongoing revamp of the Agriculture, the College of Agriculture in Iguoriakhi, the expansion work at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital as well as the gains of the health insurance scheme initiated by his government, which have begun to kick in; and reducing out-of-pocket spend on healthcare by the citizens.