Pecohub The Abia state government has announced plans to begin paying a new minimum wage to its civil servants starting in October.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, chaired by Governor Dr. Alex Otti.
While Kanu did not confirm if the wage aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ₦70,000 benchmark, he stated that the new wage would apply to all categories of workers in the state.
The government also said it would construct 17 court halls across the state’s local government areas to enhance the administration of justice.
He further disclosed that the state Ministry of Health will next week organise a free medical outreach at Ugwunagbo.
He said there would be free medical consultations, maternal and child healthcare services and free diagnostic tests.
He also said that in a bid to encourage Abia athletes, the governor has concluded plans to host para-Olympic athletes who made the state proud, particularly Miss Onyinyechi Mark who won gold in the 61 kg category and Miss Esther Nworgu who also won silver in the 41kg class.
Our correspondent reports that the Abia State chapter chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya had vowed that the leadership of the workers’ union will not accept any decision by the governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti to pay members of the union anything less than N70,000 minimum wage approved by the federal government.
Comrade Ogbonnaya reacting in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday maintained that their stand on the payment offer ₦70,000 minimum wage to workers on level 1 step 1 was sacrosanct.
