The jubilation that trailed the minimum monthly wage increase from N70,000 to N75,000 announcement by the Governor of Edo State , Monday Okpebholo, on May 1, 2025 (Workers’ Day) has diminished, following the delay in implemention of the minimum wage award for workers of the 18 Local Governments in the state.
The wage award is already being implemented for workers in the State Civil Service, who have been receiving the enhanced pay as directed by the governor since May 2025.
However, the implementation remains a mirage in local Governments due largely to the absence of elected officials across the local governments whose elected officers have since been replaced with Caretaker Committees.
The Local Government Service Commission has yet-to unpack what appears to be a stalemate that has dampened the enthusiasm of workers at the grassroots.
The state government recently reintroduced the monthly sanitation exercise and set up mobile Courts to try violators, but leakages in government revenue payments platform.
Investigation revealed that the State government is working evidence-based new order to change the narratives and address the issues within the next few months.
A Local Government staff, who does not want her name mentioned lamented that Local Government workers are yet to get full entitlements, re-echoing the call for full implementation of financial Autonomy of Local Government Councils in Nigeria.
The staffer lamented the absence of NULGE executives in most Local Government Councils and absence of elected Councils officials, which has hindered democratic governance at the grassroots in Edo State.
“Yes. They have not yet implemented the new minimum wage. But, they (Local Government Councils authorities) have asked us to be patient that they will do something about it.They said that they will implement the arrears”, according to the staffer.
