The Enugu State Government has approved eighty thousand naira (N80,000) as the new minimum wage for both Local and State Government workers in the state with effect from October 2024.
The State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah announced this on Thursday after a meeting with the Enugu State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee headed by the Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu and leaders of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Enugu chapter at the Government House Enugu.
Governor Mbah said the approval reflects his administration’s commitment to leaving behind lasting legacies of improved living conditions and a firm belief that a motivated workforce is essential for driving economic progress.
“There’s an undeniable link between an inspired workforce and the bold economic targets we have set for our beloved state. That is why we are committed to ensuring our workforce remains highly motivated, laying the groundwork for reducing poverty and achieving unprecedented economic growth in Enugu.”
“For us, the best way to recognize that labour creates wealth is by ensuring that those who generate this wealth – the workforce – are well rewarded. We consistently showed this commitment through the timely payment of wage awards, a practice we committed to sustaining until a new wage structure is put in place as we have done today; indeed, our sights are firmly set on a prosperous Enugu, where growth and progress are not just goals but the very heartbeat of our journey. Let’s keep doing more,” Mbah reiterates.
In his response, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Enugu State chapter, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, expressed profound gratitude to the state Governor for prioritizing the welfare of workers.
Nwigbo commended the state Governor especially for approving the effective date to start immediately in this month of October.
“In the past, when minimum wage is announced, it takes up to one or two years for anything to happen; and when it did, we took anything they gave us as we saw it. But today, you have even given us something much higher than national minimum wage.”
“But I am not totally surprised because when other governors were paying N12,000 wage award, you were paying us N25,000. When others paid for some months and stopped, you continued paying it until the new minimum wage as you promised. So, we have enjoyed wage award for 11 months and today you announced the minimum wage which is the first of its kind since my 32 years in service,” the NLC leader said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Ben Asogwa, commends the decision of the state Governor not to have any disparity in the wage approved for Local Government workers.
Speaking to Government House Correspondents, Asogwa said, “We are so happy. the governor did not just announce ₦80,000 minium wage but said that it cascades down to even local government workers as he does not want disparity in salary implementation in Enugu State anymore because we all go to the same market.”
“This is the first time in history we are seeing the implementation of minimum wage above the approved amount by the federal government. Actually, when we entered into the negotiation, we were afraid because we know quite well that we are not among the states that share in dividends of oil money. We know quite well that we are at the back when it comes to federal allocation, but His Excellency actually surprised us,” Asogwa said.
Also the Chairman of the Association of Local Government Workers, ALGON, Enugu State, Okechukwu Edeh, pledged the commitment of council Chairmen in implementation of the new minimum wage.
“When you motivate workers, they become more productive. What I am promising on behalf of the Enugu ALGON family is that we are going to cascade the new minimum wage to the local government level. Implementation begins immediately,” Edeh said.
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