The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Sokoto State has pushed back strongly against a report published in The Punch, credited to the National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), which claimed the state was yet to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage.
At a joint press conference on Wednesday, the State NLC Chairman, Aliyu Abdullahi Jangale, and the State President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Ibrahim Abubakar Giro, described the report as “misleading and completely untrue.”
The report, credited to the National President of NULGE, Ali Haruna Kankara, listed Sokoto among states still dragging their feet on the new wage. But according to Jangale, Sokoto should actually be celebrated—not criticized.
“To set the record straight, Sokoto State was the first in the entire federation to fully implement the N70,000 minimum wage. This began as far back as January this year,” Jangale said. “Workers across all levels—state, local government, and LGEAs—are already receiving the new wage.”
He expressed disappointment at the statement from the national NULGE leadership, urging labour leaders at all levels to verify their facts before going public.
“It’s disheartening to see such a claim coming from our national president. We expected better,” Jangale added.
The NLC boss didn’t just defend the state government—he praised it. He described Governor Ahmed Aliyu as “the most worker-friendly governor in Nigeria,” citing his administration’s consistent commitment to workers’ welfare.
Beyond implementing the wage, Jangale noted that the state has taken major steps to clean up the system and ensure transparency. “We were part of the verification committee that fished out ghost workers. This was a key part of preparations before rolling out the new salary structure.”
The governor also earned praise for clearing a backlog of gratuities and pensions worth billions, restoring cash allocations to government agencies, and keeping salary payments timely.
“Governor Ahmed Aliyu didn’t just comply with President Tinubu’s directive—he led the way. And we’re proud of that,” he said.
The union leaders ended the briefing by reassuring workers that their rights remain a top priority and urged the media to always double-check information that affects the welfare of citizens.
