The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants in the state, which is N34,000 higher than that of the federal government, which is N70,000.
Penpushing reports that Uzodimma made this known during a meeting with various labour union leaders on Tuesday night at the Government House in Owerri, while is recalled that before now the minimum wage for the workers is N76,000 to N104,000.
The Governor in similar vein increased the minimum wage of doctors from N215,000 to N503,000, while that of tertiary institution teachers increased from N119,000 to N222,000, among others.
Penpushing further reports that he said Imo state citizens had faced numerous challenges since his government took office, including insecurity, coronavirus pandemic, economic hardship from reform policies, and disputes over minimum wage and subsidy removal.
“There is no way any government will do well if it doesn’t have a friendly and cordial relationship with the organised labour. When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows’, he stated.
“This is our way of investing in Imo people. Government believes in stimulating political and economic activities, carrying bureaucrats along, and making sure that workers’ welfare is highly respected’, the governor added.
Penpushing also reports that Uzodimma explained that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had grown from N400 million to over N3 billion monthly, stating that in 2020 the government was were receiving allocations between N5 billion to N7 billion, but it has increased to N14 billion.
“In 2020, we were receiving allocations between N5 billion to N7 billion, but it has increased to N14 billion. In 2020, the state recorded a debt profile of over N280 billion but has reduced to less than N100 billion’, he added.
Penpushing further reports that he recalled that when he assumed office in 2020, the major infrastructure in all sectors had totally collapsed, stressing that a lot had been expended to rebuild the collapsed infrastructure, especially roads and to combat the insecurity challenges.
The Governor pointed out that the removal of fuel subsidy had equally raised the cost of living in Nigeria as much as it had its own advantages
“It is a thing of joy that we have started seeing the dividends of that bold decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove fuel subsidy. What government is confronted with now is how to ensure that the dividends of that policy trickle down to the common man on the street’.
“Cognisant of the fact that our effort has started yielding dividends and that our IGR has improved and that reform policies of the President have also increased our allocations to sub-national governments, every responsible government must be transparent about it’, he said.
Penpushing also reports that Uzodimma said that the state government will on August 27, 2025, begin payment of the last batch of gratuity of N16 billion owed to pensioners in the state.
The Governor explained that his administration had carried out major reforms in the health sector, including initiating a health insurance scheme and equipping health facilities to ensure world-class treatment for residents of the state.
Penpushing reports that he stated that his government had keyed into the federal government project of establishing 1,000 businesses in every active Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ward.
The Governor charged labour unions to unite to foster good working relations between labour and government, solicited value addition from workers, also cautioned them against unethical practices and redundancy at work.
Penpushing further reports that Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in the state, Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, described the increase in minimum wage in the state as a victory for the entire work force in the state.
The chairman declared that the Governor did not only rescue the workers from the economic challenges, but had made the state one of the highest in payment of minimum wage., stressing that no worker
Penpushing also reports that the labour union boss prayed God to continue to protect the governor, assuring him that workers will reciprocate the gesture with more diligent, efficient and effective service.
The Chairman of Trade Union Congress(TUC),in the state Uchenna Ibe, in remarks lauded the governor for his strong political will in taking up strong projects, including the increase in minimum wage
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