Abia State Government has dismissed claims by the National Leadership of the Organized Labour that it is among 14 states yet to implement the new National Minimum Wage, describing the information as false and misleading.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, made the clarification while briefing Journalists at the Government House, Umuahia, following a meeting with the Organized Labour representatives in the state.
He clarified that Abia was one of the first states to implement the new Minimum Wage for workers and had already started the implementation since October this year.
“Of course, Abia workers have been paid the first salary according to the new minimum wage in their October salary and that has also been done this last November.
“So, it is not true that Abia State is one of those States that has not started implementation of the new National Minimum Wage.” Ajagba stated.
The Chief of Staff who expressed surprise at Abia’s inclusion on the list of states allegedly yet to implement the wage, reaffirmed Governor Otti’s commitment to the welfare of Abia workers and emphasized that the present administration is dedicated to fostering industrial harmony.
He further explained that he issue at hand concerns certain anomalies observed by the Organized Labour after implementation adding that the State Government is already working to address the issues and ensure that shortcomings are rectified.
“It is on record that Abia State was one of the States that signified the intention and actually went ahead to contact the Organized Labour when the Federal Government concluded the issue of Minimum Wage.
“We rounded off our deliberations in October and the first payment was made the same October
“After the payment was made to the Organized Labou, we made some observations which the communicated back to us . In the same spirit of being a very responsible government we assured them that it should be looked into”. Ajagba explained.
Ajagba highlighted that the Governor Otti-led administration has consistently prioritized Workers’ welfare, pointing out that Abia was proactive in engaging Organized Labour on the minimum wage and swiftly began its implementation.
Also speaking, the Abia State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Ihechi Eneogwe, confirmed that the State Government began the implementation of the new wage in October.
However, they noted discrepancies in salary adjustments for workers between grade levels 8 and 16, assuring that it would be corrected.
The NLC State Chairman, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro said, “Let me categorically say that Abia State implemented the Minimum Wage in October but it did not favour all the workers. It favoured workers between level 1 to 7.From 8 to 16 were not properly taken care of.
“And when we noticed that anomaly, the Organized Labour wrote a letter reminding the Government that we have not tidied up the remaining loose ends, that there is need for workers between level 8 and 16 should be better placed.
“Immediately that Minimum Wage was implemented in October those in level 7 were taken higher payment than those in level 10. And it’s not supposed to be like that”, Okoro maintained.
The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Uwaoma Ukandu, his Labour and Productivity counterpart, Comrade Sunny Onwuma, the state Head of Service, Dr Ngozi Obioma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma among other top government officials were present during the briefing.
