L-R: CHAIRMAN, NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) LAGOS STATE COUNCIL, COMRADE (MRS.) AGNES FUNMI SESSI, LAGOS STATE DEPUTY GOVERNOR, DR. KADRI OBAFEMI HAMZAT, THE HEAD OF SERVICE, MR. OLABODE AGORO AND CHAIRMAN, TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA, LAGOS STATE COUNCIL, COMRADE ALADETAN ABIODUN AT THE WORKERS DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT THE MOBOLAJI JOHNSON ARENA, ONIKAN LAGOS HELD ON FRIDAY.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has approved an additional ₦50,000 salary support for all state workers in May 2026 to cushion economic hardship linked to rising fuel prices. The announcement was made at the 2026 Workers Day celebration themed “Insecurity, Poverty: Bane of Decent Work,” held Friday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan. Represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu said the intervention, which will be reviewed, reflects his administration’s resolve to build a city that works for residents, especially the workforce driving its growth.
“We know that prices of fuel are rising. We know we did not cause the war in Iran, but we are feeling its impact. So this government has made the decision that for this May, there will be an additional ₦50,000 for every worker in Lagos State, irrespective of grades — ₦50,000 across the board,” the Governor stated. He reaffirmed that workers’ welfare remains central to his agenda, with sustained measures to ease economic pressures and improve living conditions. He cited structural reforms over the past seven years, including the highest minimum wage in the country, expanded healthcare via Ilera Eko Easy Pay, timely pension payments exceeding N1 billion to retirees, free first-year post-service healthcare, and official vehicles for senior civil servants.
The Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro, and Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, described workers as critical partners in governance, commending the administration’s investment in welfare, prompt salaries, and clearance of retirement bond backlogs. NLC Lagos Chairperson Comrade Agnes Funmi Sessi and TUC counterpart Comrade Aladetan Abiodun praised government’s participation in May Day but argued the current ₦85,000 minimum wage is no longer sufficient amid inflation. They appealed for a review to ₦250,000, citing Lagos’ high cost of transportation, housing, and feeding as Nigeria’s economic nerve centre.
