The Abia State Government and Organized Labour have signed an agreement on the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustments.
Speaking at Government House Umuahia during the signing of the agreement, the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, disclosed that Abia workers will start receiving the new national minimum wage effective this October.
The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, while reaffirming the state government’s earlier public statement to comply with the new national minimum wage and its consequential adjustments, reiterated that his administration will continue to prioritize the welfare of Abia workers.
He disclosed that workers in Grade Level One, Step One, will receive a minimum of ₦70,000 and commended the organized labour in the state for the maturity they have exhibited throughout this process.
In his speech, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, while thanking Governor Alex Otti for his significant strides and for being one of the first governors to implement the agreement between the state government and Organized Labour, added that the day marks another landmark in the implementation of the new national minimum wage for all Abia workers.
In a vote of thanks, the Head of Service, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Queen-Obioma, appreciated Governor Otti for the magnanimity and fatherly heart he has shown to Abia workers and for approving the new national minimum wage and consequential adjustments for civil and public servants in the state.
Mrs. Obioma also commended the state government’s team and the organized labour in the state for showing a high level of resilience during this period and expressed optimism that the new wage will spur Abia workers to be more productive.
Our correspondent reports that the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu; his Budget and Planning counterpart, Mr. Kingsley Anosike; Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor; his Media and Publicity counterpart, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma; SSA to the Governor on Labour, Sir Godson Anucha; and members of organized labour in the state were present during the signing ceremony.
