The Abia State Government has responded to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), disputing their claim that the state is one of 14 yet to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage.
The NLC had threatened to initiate a strike on Monday due to non-compliance by certain states regarding the new minimum wage implementation.
At a joint press conference with the state leadership of Organized Labour at the Government House in Umuahia on Sunday, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Chief of Staff to the Governor, clarified that Abia State began implementing the new minimum wage in October.
He expressed surprise that Abia was included among the defaulting states, noting that the state was one of the first to pay workers the new minimum wage.
“It is misinformation that Abia State has not started implementing the new minimum wage. Abia workers received their first salary under the new wage structure in October, followed by the same payment in November,” Ajagba stated.
He reiterated Governor Alex Otti’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare of Abia workers and maintaining industrial harmony.
Ajagba acknowledged some concerns raised by Organized Labour following the implementation but assured that the government is dedicated to addressing them.
“Governor Otti has consistently shown his commitment to ensuring industrial harmony and prioritizing the welfare of Abia workers. Abia was among the first states to engage with Organized Labour after the federal government resolved the minimum wage issue. We finalized discussions in October, and the first payment was made that same month,” Ajagba said.
He added that any issues raised by labour unions would be carefully reviewed and resolved.
The State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro, and the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Ihechi Eneogwe, confirmed that Abia State began implementing the new minimum wage in October.
However, they noted discrepancies in salaries for workers between grade levels 8 and 16.
“While Abia implemented the minimum wage in October, it did not fully benefit all workers. It primarily favoured those on levels 1 to 7, while employees on levels 8 to 16 were not adequately addressed,” Okoro explained. “After identifying this discrepancy, Organized Labour submitted a letter to the government, urging that workers between levels 8 and 16 be better compensated.”
Okoro further emphasized that after implementation, workers at level 7 received higher pay than those at level 10, which should not have been the case.
The press conference was attended by several top 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.
