Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, has approved the sum of N80,000, as the new minimum wage for workers both at the state and local government levels, as against the N70,000 approved by the Federal Government.
Mbah who disclosed this at the government house while addressing the press on the government’s position concerning the implementation of the new minimum wage, said the payment takes effect immediately starting from this month of October.
Our government house correspondent, Fred Nnaji reports that the announcement of the new minimum wage threw the workers across the state into jubilation which they described as unprecedented since the creation of the state where a minimum wage is implemented without lobby or delays.
Stating that his administration’s commitment to improving workers welfare runs deep and is rooted in the firm understanding of the inexplicable link between an inspired workforce and audacious economic target the state has established, Dr. Mbah said reducing poverty to zero and achieving an unprecedented economic growth target were contingent on the output of the workforce.
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Responding, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NCL, Chairman Enugu state chapter, comrade Fabian Nwigbo and his Trade Union counterpart, Comrade Ben Asogwa who expressed their joy on behalf of the entire state workers, promised to reciprocate the governor’s gesture through additional productivity.
Also, the chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Okechukwu Edeh who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said Local Government workers would not be left out.
You may recall that the federal government of Nigeria after a tripartite meeting with the leadership of organized labour, approved 70,000 Naira as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.