Despite beating its chest publicly to have fulfilled the implementation of the #72, 000 new minimum wage, the Kaduna State Government appears to be reneging on its commitment towards implementation.
Fresh evidence from across the state paints a disturbing picture of wage stagnation, broken promises, and systemic opacity.
Teachers Receive Salaries below Promised Benchmark
Across many local government areas, field investigations conducted reveal that many public sector workers—particularly teachers—continue to receive salaries far below the promised benchmark.
A Level 7 teacher under Kaduna SUBEB received just ₦37,436 on September 3 for his August 2025 salary in a Local Government, while in Zaria, another teacher confirmed a payment of ₦42,000 for the same period.
Reports from all 23 LGAs consistently point to a lingering ₦30,000 wage regime, contradicting the state’s official narrative.
These figures, backed by pay slips and bank alerts, expose a stark disconnect between policy and practice.
Inbalances in Wage Upgrade
Kaduna’s labour leadership had earlier announced that Governor Uba Sani had approved and commenced the new wage structure for workers on levels 1–7.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, also reiterated this position during a recent media engagement.
However, the numbers tell a different story. The wage upgrade, if implemented at all, appears to be selective, inconsistent, or symbolic.
Polytechnic Staff not Unscathed
The wage discrepancies are not limited to basic education. At Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic in Zaria, lecturers report similar shortfalls.
One lecturer, speaking anonymously, revealed receiving ₦64,800 for August 2025—well below the declared minimum wage.
“There is no reflection of the ₦72,000 minimum wage in our pay. What the government is saying is different from what we are seeing in our bank accounts,” he said.
Tertiary institutions are not left behind in the sentiment, indicating significant inadequacies in wage policy execution.
Troubling Gap between Rhetoric and Reality
These investigations reveal the absence of transparency, governance, and accountability in the administration of wage in Kaduna.
Even though the government remains adamant that the new structure is in effect, the investigation indicates a troubling gap between rhetoric and reality.
The Digger Intelligence Unit intensifies its efforts to dig deeper into the discrepancies, as it searches for more testimonies, financial records, and stakeholder perspectives.
In its effort to hold the relevant authority accountable, the Digger Intelligence Unit compiles a detailed report to beam its searchlight on the full scope of the development.