IMO State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has approved an increase of the monthly minimum wage of civil servants in the state from the current N76,000 to N104,000.
Similarly, the minimum wage of doctors was increased from N215,000 to N503,000, while that of tertiary institution teachers was raised from N119,000 to N222,000.
Uzodimma, who disclosed this during a meeting with various labour union leaders on Tuesday night, August 26, at the Government House, Owerri, noted that Imo citizens had faced numerous challenges since his government took office, including insecurity, COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardship from reform policies and disputes over minimum wage and subsidy removal.
According to him: “There is no way any government will do well if it doesn’t have a friendly and cordial relationship with the organised Labour.
“When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier and the local economy grows.
“This is our way of investing in Imo people. Government believes in stimulating political and economic activities, carrying bureaucrats along and making sure that workers’ welfare is highly respected.”
The governor announced that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has grown from N400million to over N3billion monthly, noting: “In 2020, we were receiving allocations between N5billion to N7billion, but it has increased to N14billion.
“In 2020, the state recorded a debt profile of over N280billion, but has reduced to less than N100billion.”
He recalled that when he assumed office in 2020, the major infrastructure in all sectors had totally collapsed, but that a lot had been expended to rebuild the collapsed infrastructure, especially roads, and to combat the insecurity challenges.
Uzodimma said the removal of fuel subsidy had equally raised the cost of living in Nigeria, as much as it had its own advantages, adding: “It is a thing of joy that we have started seeing the dividends of that bold decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove fuel subsidy.
“What government is confronted with now is how to ensure that the dividends of that policy trickle down to the common man on the street.
“Cognisant of the fact that our effort has started yielding dividends, our IGR has improved and reform policies of the President have also increased our allocations to sub-national governments, every responsible government must be transparent about it.”
He announced that the state government will on August 27, begin payment of the last batch of the N16 billion gratuity owed to pensioners in the state, saying his administration had carried out major reforms in the health sector, including initiating a health insurance scheme and equipping health facilities to ensure world-class treatment for Imo citizens.
He added that his government had keyed into the federal government project of establishing 1,000 businesses in every active INEC ward and charged labour unions to unite to foster good working relations between labour and government.
He solicited value addition from workers and cautioned them against unethical practices and redundancy at work.
Responding, state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, described the minimum wage increase as “a victory for the entire work force in the state.”
Nwigwe said Uzodimma had not only rescue the workers from the economic challenges, but also made the state one of the highest in payment of minimum wage, adding: “Today, no worker in Imo will say you (Uzodimma) have not been fair to us.”
He assured the governor that workers will reciprocate the gesture with more diligent, efficient and effective service.
On his part, state Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Uchenna Ibe, commended Uzodimma for his “strong political will in taking up strong projects, including the increase in minimum wage.”
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