The Abia State Government has denied allegations by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that it has failed to implement the National Minimum Wage.
Speaking to journalists at the Government House in Umuahia, the Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, stated that the administration led by Dr Alex Otti is not among the 14 states yet to adopt the new ₦70,000 minimum wage.
He confirmed that the state began implementing the revised wage in October, reiterating the government’s commitment to workers’ welfare. Ajagba emphasised that the move aligns with the administration’s pledge to be one of the first state governments to implement the new wage structure.
Government’s Commitment
“It is misinformation to claim that Abia State has not started implementing the new minimum wage. Abia workers received their first salaries under the new wage structure in October, and the same was done in November,” he said.
NLC’s Position
The Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Ogbonnaya Okoro, corroborated that the administration commenced implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage in October.
However, he acknowledged that the organised labour in the state is engaged in a closed-door meeting to address certain unresolved issues, particularly concerning the Consequential Salary Adjustment.
Okoro highlighted that discrepancies exist in the salaries of workers on grade levels 8 to 16.
Discrepancies in Implementation
“Abia implemented the minimum wage in October, but it did not fully benefit all workers. It favoured those on levels 1 to 7, while workers on levels 8 to 16 were not adequately addressed,” Okoro stated.
He added that organised labour had written to the government requesting that salaries for workers on grade levels 8 to 16 be adjusted to align with the new wage structure.