Social political activist and commentator Reno Omokri has publicly defended the Lagos State Government’s decision to implement a minimum wage of N85,000 for civil servants, stating that the initiative deserves commendation rather than criticism
Recall the Lagos State Government had pledged to pay civil servants a minimum wage of N85,000, surpassing the federal government’s approved wage of N70,000.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Omokri highlighted the significant workforce size of Lagos, stating, “The Lagos State Government has a workforce of approximately 120,000 civil servants, which is by far more than the workforce of ANY state in Nigeria. The only competitor that Lagos State has in terms of the strength of their workforce is the Federal Government.”
Omokri contrasted Lagos’ civil service numbers with those of other states, noting that regions like Ekiti, Enugu, Anambra, and Zamfara have only 10-15% of Lagos’ workforce.
He emphasized that the scale of the workforce must be taken into account when assessing the significance of the N85,000 minimum wage.
“When Lagos pays the highest minimum wage in Nigeria, at ₦85,000, do not just look at the amount. Also, look at their staff strength, which includes people from EVERY state in Nigeria,” he explained.
The former presidential aide argued that comparing Lagos with states that have far fewer civil servants is misleading.
He pointed out that “you cannot compare a state with 15,000 civil servants to a state with almost ten times that number,” urging critics to recognize the complexities involved.
Omokri further stated, “Lagos is to be commended, not condemned, for the initiative to pay its workers a living wage of ₦85,000. But, if you disagree, you are free to return to your state!” This bold statement underscores his call for a more nuanced understanding of wage policies in relation to workforce demographics and economic conditions.