KEY POINTS

• Edo State raises minimum wage to ₦75,000, exceeding rates in Lagos and Rivers, to counter inflation and boost worker morale.

• Governor Okpebholo formalizes 1,000+ casual roles and recruits 450 healthcare workers to address unemployment and medical staff shortages.

• While labor groups welcome the hike, they call for complementary measures like housing schemes to alleviate cost-of-living pressures.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has unveiled a new minimum wage of ₦75,000 for civil servants, marking a 7% increase from the previous ₦70,000, during the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

The raise, effective immediately, aims to cushion the impact of Nigeria’s 31.7% inflation rate and aligns with the governor’s pledge to prioritize public sector welfare.

“This wage adjustment reflects our gratitude to Edo workers, whose resilience drives our state’s progress,” Okpebholo declared, addressing thousands of attendees.

The governor also announced the absorption of over 1,000 casual cleaners into permanent civil service roles and the recruitment of 500 new teachers to address overcrowded classrooms.

Okpebholo: Expanding job security and healthcare capacity

Beyond wage increases, Okpebholo highlighted efforts to stabilize Edo’s workforce. Over 3,000 teachers on casual contracts are under review for full employment, while 450 clinical staff have been recruited to bolster the state’s hospitals. “Job security in healthcare is critical to retaining talent and combating Nigeria’s medical brain drain,” he emphasized, referencing the exodus of over 15,000 doctors abroad since 2023.

The governor’s initiatives come as Edo grapples with 18.5% unemployment, higher than the national average of 14.2%. Civil society groups praised the moves but urged sustained action. “Wage hikes are vital, but affordable housing and transport subsidies are equally urgent,” said Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, Edo chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

According to Channelstv, Edo’s wage now surpasses Lagos (₦50,000) and Rivers (₦65,000), though it trails behind proposals by labor unions for a national minimum wage of ₦100,000.

Analysts caution that without federal support, states like Edo may strain their budgets. “Funding this requires innovative revenue streams, like property tax reforms and agricultural exports,” noted economist Dr. Ifeanyi Adebayo.

Okpebholo also pledged to clear pending promotions and arrears for state workers, a longstanding grievance. The announcement follows his February 2025 conversion of 126 contract staff at Edo State Specialist Hospital into permanent roles, part of broader efforts to formalize the informal sector.