Just In : Jubilation As South East Governor Announces N25,000 Wage Award For Workers
Governor of Enugu, Dr. Peter Mbah, has declared cash incentives ranging from N10,000 to N25,000 for state employees until April 2024, emphasizing his commitment to prioritizing the welfare of workers.
He assured that negotiations for the new minimum wage were nearing completion, underlining the essential role of a content workforce in achieving the administration’s ambitious goals for Enugu.
During a collaborative press conference with the state’s labor leaders at the Government House in Enugu on Wednesday, Dr. Mbah disclosed the administration’s decision to expand the state social register enrollment from 43,000 to 260,000.
He pledged to uplift more financially challenged citizens through cash transfers and various social interventions, highlighting the broader efforts beyond cash transfers aimed at enhancing the overall well-being of Enugu State workers.
“As you may be aware, since the removal of the petroleum subsidy, we have been in constant negotiation with the labour unions in the state, crafting a way forward on how we can provide palliatives to our teeming workforce.
“So, by the time you put a monetary value to all the social services we have provided, it will weigh well above N100,000 minimum wage.
“But in addition to that, with effect from next month (December), we are going to also make a flat payment to all categories of our workers, beginning from our local government to the primary and secondary school teachers, and civil servants. We are going to categorise them and there will be flat payment of between N10,000 and 25,000, depending on the category. That payment is going to continue till April.
“Our hope is that by the end of April, the committee that is reviewing the minimum wage would have come out with what would then become the new minimum wage in the state. So, from there, we are just going to carry on the implementation of what is then set as the minimum wage”, he stated.
Governor Mbah reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to achieving a zero percent poverty headcount index by 2031. He disclosed that the state has allocated N1.5 billion for social development initiatives, focusing on water and sanitation in communities. Furthermore, the plan includes the construction of 260 model primary healthcare centers and 260 smart schools, each with accompanying teachers’ quarters.
“Importantly, the state is just concluding the update of our social register. We have now expanded our social register from 43,000 to accommodate up to 260,000 indigent people in our state. That is also a platform that we are going to use to do cash transfers to engage our indigent ones”, he added.
In response, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) state chairman, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Benneth Asogwa, expressed gratitude to the governor for his proactive measures in addressing the welfare of Enugu workers. They conveyed their satisfaction that Enugu workers did not need to resort to lobbying, protests, or strikes to have their salaries and welfare concerns addressed.
“I am overwhelmed by your pronouncements this afternoon. We are grateful for the announcement because there was no ‘war-war’ to get this. This one came on a platter of gold. We did not come begging and crying or shouting and agitating. It was out of the abundance of your heart that you decided to greet us with this big news.
“Actually, it has been great for the people of Enugu State, especially the workers under your administration. First of all, our salaries come as and when due. Our promotion is also on the way for 2023. In the past, you have to spend years before you get promoted. So, as workers, we will do all we can to ensure that this government succeeds”, Nwigbo said
Adding his voice, the TUC state chairman, Asogwa, said: “You have made us today to understand that all that you said during the election were no political promises. We have come to realise that you meant business. If you could move this far within a few months of taking over as the governor of Enugu State, that means we are very sure that our tomorrow is bright”.
