Edo state workers have begun to enjoy an upscale salary scheme of N70,000 new minimum wage unlike their counterparts in Abia State who furthered their lamentation on Sunday.
Workers in Abia have been victims of the non-implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage adjusted by former President Munhammudu Buhari in 2019, which some state governments have refused to implement.
Also adding to their plight is the non-implementation of the N35,000 palliative wage award by the President Bola Tinubu administration as part of measures to cushion the biting impact of the harsh economy, particularly following the subsidy removal of premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol.
Abia State is one of about 15 others which reports have revealed have failed to implement the N30,000 minimum wage review since 2019.
However, workers in Edo State will now have an upward review in what seems like a fairer lot, as the state government moves ahead of the federal government and other States in the minimum wage review implementation.
Recall that during the recent inauguration of the Labour House in Benin City, the state capital, Governor Godwin Obaseki announced the increase of the minimum wage for workers in the state from N40,000 to N70,000 to cushion the impacts of the harsh economy on the people of the state.
Chris Nehikhare, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage to the state workers, saying it further demonstrates the commitment of the Obaseki-led administration to the welfare of Edo workers.
He said, “The Edo State Government has paid the May salaries of workers in the state, reflecting the implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage.
“This is in fulfilment of the promise made by Governor Godwin Obaseki to increase the minimum wage from N40,000 to N70,000 beginning this May, as part of efforts to cushion the impacts of the harsh economy occasioned by fuel subsidy removal and other economic decisions by the Federal Government.
“It is also in furtherance of the commitment of the state government to meet its statutory obligation even before the end of the month.”
The commissioner urged workers to be committed to their duties, while contributing effectively to ensuring the governor’s administration ends on a good note, and to reciprocate the gesture by the state government to their welfare.
…..Labour Gives Otti 14-day Ultimatum To Implement N30,000 Minimum Wage
Meanwhile amidst negotiations for a review of a new minimum wage with demands of a living wage of N615,000, the organised Labour in Abia state is still struggling with the state government over the payment of N30,000 minimum wage.
This is just as the organised Labour in the State has handed a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Alex Otti to ensure full payment of the N30,000 national minimum wage in the State and the N35,000 palliative wage award approved by the federal government for workers.
In a letter addressed to Governor Otti, by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abia State Council and Trade Union Congress (TUC), the organised Labour requested that the N30,000 former national minimum wage and the N35,000 wage award approved by the federal government eight months ago for workers be paid without further delay to workers in Abia State.
Labour also noted that a committee was set up to produce a salary structure based on the N30,000 former national minimum wage which the state government failed to implement.
In the letter, signed by Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro and Comrade Emma Alozie, Abia NLC Chairman and Secretary, respectively; Comrade Eneogwe Ihechi and Comrade George Okogbue, Abia TUC Chairman and Secretary, respectively; and Chairman and Secretary of the Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Innocent Ekwenye and Comrade Oby Maduako, respectively; the organised Labour explained that it relied on the national organised Labour meeting held in Abuja on Monday, May 20, 2024.
The letter read; “Consequent upon the meeting held by the national labour leadership on Monday, May 20, 2024, in which the state councils were directed to issue 14 day ultimatum to various state governments who have not implemented the N30,000 former minimum wage and N35,000 palliative wage award.
“Furtherance of the directive, the organised labour in the state comprising the NLC, TUC and JPSNC, met on Wednesday, and noted with dismay the various challenges facing labour unions and their members.
“These include the non-implementation of the former national minimum wage and the non-implementation of the N35,000 palliative wage award to Abia workers. The organised labour observed with utmost regret that from 2019 till date, the Abia state government has failed to fully implement the national minimum wage as agreed upon by the organised Labour, government and employers in the private sector and gazetted by the federal government. The state government has continued to shun every attempt to discuss the minimum wage.
“The organised labour also critically viewed the non-implementation of the N35,000 palliative wage award eight months after its announcement by the state government as disheartening and dampening the morale of the state workers.
“Since the government is a continuum, Your Excellency, you are humbly requested to put in place the necessary machinery to kick start the process of implementing in full the N30,000 former national minimum wage and the N35,000 wage award within 14 days in line with the directive of the joint NEC meeting of the NLC and TUC.”
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