The Abia State government has described as false and misleading the information by the national leadership of the Organized Labour that Abia is among the 14 states yet to commence the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage and hence should embark on an industrial action.
The Chief of Staff to Governor Alex Otti, Caleb Ajagba said this on Sunday while briefing newsmen at the Government House in Umuahia during a meeting with the state’s Organized Labour.
He said Abia was one of the first states to commence implementation of the new wage for its workers and had started implementation in October this year.
“It is misinformation that Abia State has not started the implementation of the new minimum wage.
” Of course, Abia workers have been paid the first salary according to the new minimum wage in their October salary and that has also been done this last November.
“So, it is not true that Abia State is one of those states that has not started implementation of the new national minimum wage. Ajagba stated.
Ajagba reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Alex Otti in prioritizing the welfare of Abia workers and reiterated that the present administration has always demonstrated commitment to industrial harmony, wondering why Abia should be named among states yet to implement the new wage.
He noted that the issue was the grey areas which the Organized Labour observed after the implementation, which the government has also exhibited a firm commitment to addressing.
Also speaking during the press briefing, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ogbonnaya Okoro and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Ihechi Eneogwe confirmed that the Abia State government has already commenced implementation of the new minimum wage in October this year but pointed out that there were some anomalies observed in the salaries of workers between grade levels 8 to 16.
They noted that the Organized Labour is in talks with the Abia State government to ensure that the error noted is addressed, assuring that it would be corrected.
In his words, the NLC State Chairman, Ogbonnaya Okoro said, “Let me categorically say that Abia State implemented the minimum wage in October but it did not favour all the workers. It favoured workers between levels 1 to 7.
“From 8 to 16 were not properly taken care of”.
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