Alex Otti, the governor of Abia public, has approved a new minimum wage of ₦70,000 for public employees.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, declared that the decision, which exceeds the national minimum wage requirement, will go into effect in October 2024.
While speaking at a news briefing following Monday’s State Executive Council meeting, which was presided over by the Governor Kanu emphasized the government’s dedication to improving the welfare of workers in the state.
“The state government is committed to the minimum wage, and within the next few days, payment of the new minimum wage will commence,” Kanu stated.
The administration’s commitment to enhancing working conditions was further articulated by Kanu, who said, “If the governor wants to deviate from the national standard and pay higher, so be it.”
Sunny Onwuma, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to ensuring that workers receive their increased salary on schedule and confirmed the latest wage announcement.
The administration’s emphasis on labor welfare is demonstrated by Governor Otti’s action, which places Abia State among the few in the nation to pay more than the federal minimum wage.
The minimum wage controversy has been a reoccuring issue that has trailed the governmennt of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after he consecutively, within a year increased petroleum pump price four times. The increament resulted to sharp rise in the prices of goods and services in the market across Nigeria, drastically underminding the value of monthly wages for workers. Agravated by government’s action the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria and other labour union bodies called for nationalwide industrial action. After series of nagotiation with the federal government of Nigeria an amount was arrived at as minumum wage for workers in Nigeria.
