Minimum Wage: How Otti averted industrial crisis in Abia
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
A looming industrial crisis has been averted in Abia State following an agreement reached between Abia State government and the organized Labour on the payment of the national N70, 000 minimum wage based on consequential adjustment table.
Labour had warned that its members would embark on an indefinite industrial action on November 1, 2024 if government went ahead to pay the N70, 000 new minimum wage without any agreement on the consequential adjustment.
The threat was issued after the government had announced that it would commence the payment of the N70, 000 minimum wage by the end of October as it had earlier promised, although the joint committee comprising government officials and labour leaders put in place to work out the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage had yet to conclude its assignment.
In order to avert the imminent industrial crisis, Governor Alex Otti, summoned an all-weekend meeting between government officials and the organized Labour representatives which resulted in the Tuesday, October 29, 2024 deal which saw both parties signing an agreement.
Speaking during the agreement signing ceremony, Governor Otti said that government hoped that the gesture would be rewarded by the workers committing to higher productivity in the state public service.
The Governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, said that Abia State government has been in the forefront of advocating for a better welfare for the workers .
“Right from the time the issue of the new minimum wage began, he (Otti) was very emphatic that Abia State will be one of the first states that will pay the minimum wage whenever it is concluded at the national level,” he said and gave assurances of the immediate commencement of the payment of the minimum wage.
“We also want to assure that effective this month of October this new minimum wage begins. That implies that Abia State workers will be receiving their salaries reflecting the new national minimum wage.
“That is to say that those at the lowest level, that’s Grade Level One, Step One, will receive a minimum of 70,000 Naira.” The Governor stated.
Governor Otti thanked members of the Organized Labour for the level of maturity they displayed while the entire process lasted and described the outcome of the negotiation as a “win – win” situation.
Responding, the leader of the Organized Labour team and state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congres (NLC), Abia State chapter, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro, said the day marks a landmark in the implementation of the new minimum wage.
He thanked Governor Alex Otti, all government officials, Organized Labour and its technical team for keeping vigil for the implementation of the minimum wage and commended Abia workers for their patience.
“Today, the 29th day of October, 2024, marks another landmark in the implementation of the new minimum wage. We want to appreciate His Excellency for this giant stride, for being one of the first to implement the agreement between the Labour and government,”
Okoro said.
In her vote of thanks, the State Head of Service, Dr. Ngozi Queen Obioma, expressed happiness over the signing of the agreement on the new national minimum wage and its consequential adjustment and thanked Governor Otti for approving the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage for Abia workers.
She pledged the continuous loyalty and efficient service delivery of the civil and public servants in the State, assuring that the workers would make the Governor proud.
“We want to thank our Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, for the unprecedented magnanimity and a fatherly heart he has displayed in a moment like this for my constituency, that is the civil and public servants.
“I stand on behalf of the civil and public servants, making a pledge to His Excellency, that having shown us this level of magnanimity to ensure that our welfare is carried along and to motivate us, we say that he will reap the dividends of motivation from Abia workers,” Dr.
Obioma said.
The signing of the agreement on the implementation of new national minimum wage and the consequential adjustment was done by the Chief of staff, the Head of Service, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu, Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Comrade Sunny Onwuma, the Accountant-General of the State, Deaconess Njum Uma-Onyemenam, all on the side of the government.
For the side of the Organized Labour, the document was signed by the Chairman of NLC; Chairman TUC, Comrade Sir Ihechi Enogwe; Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Ekere Uwadi; State Secretary NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Alozie; State Secretary of TUC, Comrade George Okogbue and State Secretary Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Oby Madubuko.
The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike; Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Monitoring and Evaluation; Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor; Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour Relations, Comrade Godson Anucha, among other government officials and members of Organized Labour, witnessed the event.
