By Ado Oyeyemi
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has disclosed that graduate employees working on his farm earn a minimum of N500,000 monthly.
Bago made the disclosure on Friday in Lagos during the opening of the FirstBank Agric & Export Expo 2026, themed, “From farm to global markets: Building Nigeria’s Export Value Chain.”
The governor, who is known for his interest in agriculture, said the development of the agricultural sector, particularly livestock production, could create jobs and drive economic growth.
He said the wages paid to workers on his farm were higher than the earnings of some government employees.
“In our farm, we pay a graduate a minimum of N500,000 monthly. How much does the government pay? FirstBank, how much do you pay?” Bago asked.
According to him, the disparity demonstrated the capacity of private agricultural businesses to provide well-paying employment opportunities for Nigerians.
He jokingly added, “It means I can poach all FirstBank workers who earn less than my minimum wage, to my farm.”
Bago urged more private investors to channel their resources into agriculture, saying greater private-sector participation was needed to unlock the sector’s potential.
“So, I want to encourage the private sector to do more,” the governor said.
He also expressed concern over Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported food, describing the situation as unsustainable and calling for deliberate policies to boost local production.
Bago stressed the importance of food sovereignty, noting that Nigeria had imported food estimated at more than $3bn within the year.
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He warned that the figure could rise to $4bn before the end of the year, describing the development as “scary.”I can also make the headline more catchy and punchy, while keeping it suitable for a newspaper.
