Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has vowed to implement the new national minimum wage that will be approved by the Federal Government at the end of the ongoing negotiation.
Governor Uzodimma also announced that the state had commenced payment of gratuity to retired civil servants from 2006 to date.
The governor, while disclosing this at this year’s Workers’ Day celebration in Owerri, noted that three thousand pensioners cutting across all cadres had been paid since Tuesday this week when the exercise commenced.
He stressed that his administration was committed to enhancing the welfare of workers and entire citizens of the state.
Governor Uzodimma commended organised Labour for their support to his administration since 2020 but warned that he would no longer tolerate truancy or sharp practices from revenue generating establishments.
“There is a hold on the remaining payment because some of you changed their record. Going through the career progression and history, the computer dictated that there is fraud. The only option we had was to put a hold till we conducted another verification. I do not see you as workers any more, I see you as my brothers and sister.“
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Chigaemezu Nwaigwe, who spoke on behalf of the organised Labour commended the state government for interventions that have lessened the burden on workers but appealed for immediate payment of salaries that will reflect the last promotion given to workers in the state.
“Arising from the removal of the fuel subsidy and the cost of living, in Nigeria as of today, it is now very important that we appeal for your implementation of the approved N30,000 minimum wage from level 8 to 17.”
Comrade Nwaigwe also appealed to the governor to add more buses to the fleet of buses conveying workers to and from work, to avoid stressing the already existing buses to break down.
