(Pix shows Pastor Caleb Ajagba addressing the Press on Sunday)
Minimum Wage: Govt. faults NLC for listing Abia among defaulting states
(Pix shows Pastor Caleb Ajagba addressing the Press on Sunday)
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Government has faulted the claim by the national leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that the state was among defaulting states yet to implement the new National Minimum Wage.
The government therefore described as false and misleading, the position of the Organized Labour that Abia was among the 14 States yet to commence the implementation of the new workers’ wage approved by the federal government since August ths year.
Government’s swift reaction is to restrain Abia workers not to join in the indefinite industrial action the Organized Labour had declared in states that have yet to implement the new minimum wage.
Recall that immediately the federal government approved the new minimum wage, NLC warned that its members in states that fail to implement payment of the new workers’ pay by December 1, 2024, would embark on an indefinite strike.
NLC, by the implication of listing Abia among defaulting states, is directing workers in the state to immediately begin an indefinite industrial action.
But in its swift reaction, with staunch support by the state chapter of NLC, Abia government said it started implementing the new minimum wage in October.
Chief of Staff to Abia State Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, said while briefing newsmen at Government House, Umuahia, Sunday afternoon, after a meeting with the leadership of Abia NLC, that Abia was one of the first states to commence the implemention of the new wage for its workers, saying it commenced paying the new wage since October this year.
“It is a 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 said.
While reaffirming the commitment of Governor Alex Otti to prioritizing the welfare of Abia workers, the Chief of Staff reiterated that the present administration has always demonstrated its commitment to industrial harmony and welfare of Abia workers and wondered why Abia should be named among states yet to implement the new wage.
He noted that what was in issue currently was addressing the grey areas which the Organized Labour observed after the October payment; which he disclosed that government was keenly and firmly committed to addressing.
“His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, has always demonstrated his commitment to ensuring industrial harmony and also to make sure the welfare of Abia workers receive priority attention.
“It is on record that Abia State was one of the States that signified its intention and actually went ahead to contact the Organized Labour when the federal government concluded the issue of minimum wage.
“We rounded off our deliberations in October and the first payment was made the same October
“After the payment was made, the Organized Labour made some observations which they communicated back to us. In the same spirit of being a very responsible government, we assured them that it would be looked into.” Ajagba explained.
Pastor Ajagba noted that the Organized Labour has always enjoyed a cordial working relationship with the state government.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro, and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Comrade Ihechi Eneogwe, confirmed that Abia State government has already commenced implementation of the new minimum wage since October this year, pointing out that the issues were some anomalies observed in the salaries of workers between Grade Levels 8 to 16.
They confirmed that the Organized Labour was in talks with the Abia State Government in order to ensure the identified error was addressed. They expressed firm belief that the error would be corrected.
The NLC State Chairman, Comrade 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 level 1 to 7.
“From Grade Levels 8 to 16 were not properly taken care of. And when we noticed that anomaly, the Organized Labour wrote a letter reminding the government that we have not tidied up the remaining loose ends, that there is need for workers between Levels 8 and 16 to be better placed.
“Immediately that minimum wage was implemented in October, those in Level 7 were paid higher than those in Level 10. And it’s not supposed to be like that.”
The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Uwaoma Ukandu, his Labour and Productivity counterpart, Comrade Sunny Onwuma, the state Head of Service, Dr Ngozi Obioma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, among other top government officials were present during the briefing.
