Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has instructed that the salary structure for the New National Minimum Wage be reworked to correct the errors observed in the consequential adjustments.
Governor Alex Otti gave the instructions during a crucial meeting he held with the leadership of the NLC and TUC including the Affiliate Bodies in the State led by the NLC Chairman, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro. Governor Otti said that he received reports of errors noticed in the payment of the minimum wage which the State started its implementation in October.
Governor Otti assured that his government would be engaging with the leadership of the Organized Labour in few days time to correct any error.
“I have instructed my people to go and look at it again”, Governor Otti assured.
“In the next few days we will be engaging with the leadership of the Labour so that we will make necessary adjustments. So, my team will go back and look into it”.
The Governor described it as uncalled for the listing of Abia as one of the States yet to commence implementation of the new National Minimum Wage, saying that Abia is one of the first States to implement the policy right from October 2024.
Governor Alex Otti announced that he would pay both the December salary and 13th month salary of the workers before 20th of December 2024. He assured the members of the Organized Labour that the governernment is their own governernment.
The Governor, who frowned at the attitude of Abia pensioners who after receiving their many years of pension arrears in line with the agreement entered with government now accusing the government of deceiving them.
He noted that his administration met on ground unpaid pension arrears dating from 2014 and has defrayed same, noting that since April this year, Abia pensioners have been receiving their full pension on the 28th of every month. He thanked the Concerned Abia Pensioners for speaking up on the matter.
“The first time I met with the NUP leadership, they were clear to me to say that what was important to them was to be able to get the government to commit to paying them 100 percent of their pension from that month, and forget about the arrears and I felt it was not fair”.
The State Chief Executive, while describing Abia work force as a major vehicle that brought him to power, equally thanked the workers for remaining major stakeholders in the rebuilding agenda of the State Government. He said that the essence of the meeting was to have an interaction with Abia workforce and to thank them for their support to his administration which has changed the image of the state for the better.
In his reaction, the Chairman Abia State chapter of the NLC, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro while appreciating the Governor for his benevolence to the Abia workforce and his decision to correct the errors observed in the payment said that they would present other issues of concerns to the Governor later.
He assured Governor Otti of the sustained support of the workers to ensure he succeeds in office.
The meeting which attracted many government officials had Chairmen and secretaries of affiliate Unions of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), that of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council featured reactions from them. They expressed satisfaction and confidence on the Governor and Government and assured the Governor of their continuous support and partnership. They maintained that Abia workers have never had it so good and appreciated the Governor as a listening and worker’s friendly Governor.
Divine Nwankwo
Govt. House Press Umuahia.
03-12-2024.
