Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, says his administration will soon commence the implementation of the new minimum wage.

In July, President Bola Tinubu approved N70,000 as minimum wage for workers in the country.

However, the federal government, including many states in the country, are yet to implement the agreement.

At a meeting with the leadership of organised labour held in Abeokuta on Wednesday, Abiodun said his administration is working to increase the state’s revenue in order to afford the new minimum wage.

“On the new minimum wage, all hands are on deck working assiduously, and I am sure that as always, we will not be number two in the implementation of the minimum wage,” he said.

“I have told my team that we should roll up our sleeves: we should work as hard as we can without putting undue pressure on our people.

“We should be creative, more efficient, block loopholes, and increase our revenue so that we can afford to pay the new minimum wage comfortably, and by the grace of God, we will not be second in terms of implementation.”

The governor appealed for the continued partnership from the organised labour, adding that their cooperation will lead the state to economic prosperity.

He added the state’s budget has increased from less than N400 billion at the inception of his administration to the current N703 billion, with a budget performance of 80 percent.