The new minimum wage of N75,000 received by Kebbi workers has pushed them to embark on massive dry season farming to mitigate the losses recorded after flood-ravaged parts of the state.
The development followed the signing of the N75,000 minimum wage into law by Governor Nasir Idris on October 23, 2024, and his subsequent 72-hour implementation directive.
A cross-section of workers interviewed expressed joy over the approval and commended the governor for his proactive measures to ensure immediate implementation.
Malam Muhammad, a civil servant and a farmer, said the living conditions of his family had improved as a result of the N75,000 minimum wages received in October.
“I was thinking, when the governor signed the wage into law on October 23, it would not materialise as it was barely 72 hours before the payment of salaries.
“But when I got the alert for the salary on Friday, I was taken aback and overwhelmed by joy.
“I was initially receiving N30,000 as my monthly salary and I know the kind of difficulties and challenges of life I faced daily with that meagre money.
“I have two wives and five children, though living in a farm community, I was not able to feed the family and I had to engage in farming activities due to the soaring inflation.
“As I am talking to you, I have set all my plans in motion for dry season farming with this wage. Others may think it is nothing but to us farmers, we will utilise it not only for our families but for society in general,” he said.
Mr Muhammad commended the governor for signing the law and ensuring its immediate implementation.
He also commended the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and all the stakeholders involved in fast-tracking the implementation.
Esther Godiya, said though a civil servant, the new wage would make her return to the farm to complement the efforts of the government in mitigating the losses recorded as a result of floods.
“You know us here in Kebbi, double as workers and farmers, and even the government is encouraging us to do farming while we work.
“But our challenge has been capital, to actively engage in farming, even if you get fertiliser free-of-charge from the government, you still need some money to do other miscellaneous things in the farming activities.
“Now, with this N75,000, my husband, who is a worker too, will join hands to go back to farming for massive production in this year’s dry season farming,” she said.
On his part, the Special Adviser to Governor Idris on Media and Publicity, Yahaya Sarki, said that the state had experienced severe flooding in more than 13 local government areas.
He said that the flood had displaced communities, thereby affecting agricultural production.
“With this development, the workers will embark on massive production to complement the government’s efforts in increasing food production and enhancing national food security.
“Already, the Kebbi government has evolved an agricultural programme tagged: ‘ Kaura Agricultural Development and Growth Agenda (KADAGE) ‘ aims at increasing food production through the provision of farm inputs such as fertiliser and solar-powered pumps as well as CNG pumps,” he said.
While appreciating Governor Idris for apportioning the desired attention to each sector of the economy, Sarki also said the governor made history by leading the nation in the implementation of the new minimum wage.
