Lagos Clears N3.6bn Salary Arrears, Boosts Workers’ Welfare
The Lagos State Government has stepped up efforts to improve workers’ welfare after clearing N3.67 billion in outstanding salary arrears owed to thousands of employees in state-owned tertiary institutions.
The payment, which benefits 6,293 academic and non-academic staff, covers nine months of arrears tied to the recently approved 25 and 35 per cent salary increase introduced by the state government.
Speaking during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, said the move reflects the administration’s commitment to staff welfare, industrial peace, and improved productivity across the public sector.
Beyond the salary backlog, the government announced additional relief measures designed to cushion the impact of economic hardship on workers and retirees. Among the new interventions is a N32,000 monthly pension increase for retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme, alongside a N50,000 fuel subsidy allowance for public servants.
The state also extended support to healthcare professionals, disbursing over N456 million to resident doctors through the Medical Residency Training Fund while approving salary adjustments worth N378.8 million for medical and dental personnel.
Ayantayo noted that the implementation of the Lagos Consolidated Medical Salary Structure has helped stabilise the health sector, reduce labour tensions, and improve working conditions for healthcare workers across the state.
As part of broader public service reforms, the government revealed that more than 7,000 civil servants participated in training and capacity-building programmes between 2025 and 2026 to enhance efficiency and prepare the workforce for a more technology-driven system.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Head of Service, Bode Agoro, disclosed that over N8 billion has been paid to retirees under both the Contributory Pension Scheme and the Defined Benefit Scheme, reinforcing the administration’s promise to prioritise workers’ welfare even after retirement.
