By Ken Chiwendu
The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno has announced ₦80,000 as the new Minimum Wage.for workers in the state.
The development comes three months after President Bola Tinubu approved an upward review of the minimum wage for Nigerian workers from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong on Wednesday said that the increase is ‘the state government’s commitment to improving the welfare of its workforce “
He further said “To ensure a smooth rollout of this policy, the governor has also constituted an implementation committee, which has been given one month to deliver its report on how the wage increase will be executed,” .
The committee is chaired by the Head of the Civil Service.
Otherr members nclude, the Chairman, State Civil Service Commission
Chairman, Local Government Service Commission
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance
Permanent Secretary, Department of Establishments
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning
Permanent Secretary/Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice
Permanent Secretary/Accountant General
Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission
Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Civil Service
Director of Budget
State Chairman, Joint Public Service Negotiating Council
Secretary, Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council
State Chairperson, Nigeria Labour Congress, Akwa Ibom State
State Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Akwa Ibom State
State President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE)
So far,17 states out of the 36 have announced a new minimum wage for workers in their states.
They include Rivers, Lagos, Ogun,Oyo,Ondo,Kogi,Kwara, Katsina,Gombe , Borno. Anambra,Osun, Ebonyi,Benue and Nasarawa.
While some others are paying the N70,000 minimum wage, states like Lagos and Rivers have raised the wage to N85,000 , while others are non committal to a new minimum wage as they claim to be having difficulty in paying the previous N30,000 .
