The Abia State Government has refuted claims made by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that it is one of the 14 states yet to implement the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage.
This comes after the NLC threatened to initiate a strike on Monday due to the non-compliance of certain states with the new minimum wage directive.
In a press briefing at the Government House in Umuahia on Sunday, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Chief of Staff to the Governor, clarified that Abia had been implementing the new minimum wage since October.
He expressed surprise that Abia was listed among the states not complying with the new wage policy, given that it was one of the first states to roll out the payments.
“It is incorrect to say that Abia State has not started implementing the new minimum wage. Abia workers received their first salary under the new wage structure in October, and the same occurred in November,” Ajagba explained.
He reiterated Governor Alex Otti’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of Abia workers and ensuring peaceful labor relations in the state.
Ajagba acknowledged that while there had been some concerns from the Organized Labour after the wage implementation, the government was dedicated to resolving any issues.
“Governor Otti has always shown commitment to industrial harmony and the welfare of Abia workers. We were among the first states to engage with Organized Labour after the federal government concluded its discussions on the minimum wage, and we finalized our own arrangements in October,” Ajagba added.
The state leadership of the NLC, led by Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), led by Comrade Ihechi Eneogwe, confirmed that Abia had begun paying the new minimum wage in October.
However, they raised concerns about discrepancies in the wage structure for workers at grade levels 8 to 16.
Okoro explained that while the minimum wage was implemented in October, the benefits were not equally distributed among all workers.
“While workers from grade levels 1 to 7 benefited, those in grades 8 to 16 were not adequately addressed. We noticed that workers at level 7 were paid more than those at level 10, which is an anomaly.”
In response, Okoro stated that the Organized Labour had formally written to the state government, urging a review of the salaries for workers at levels 8 to 16 to ensure fairer distribution.
The press conference was attended by several key government officials, including the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu; the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Comrade Sunny Onwuma; Head of Service, Dr. Ngozi Obioma; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma.
