Gov Uzodimma Raises Imo Minimum Wage To ₦104,000
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved a new minimum wage of ₦104,000 for civil servants, raising it from the previous ₦76,000.
The announcement was made during a meeting with labour union leaders on Tuesday night at the Government House, Owerri.
Doctors’ minimum wage was also increased from ₦215,000 to ₦503,000, while that of tertiary institution teachers rose from ₦119,000 to ₦222,000.
Uzodimma said workers in the state had endured numerous challenges since his administration began, including insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardship from reforms, and disputes over wages and subsidy removal.
“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. The government believes in stimulating political and economic activities, carrying bureaucrats along, and making sure that workers’ welfare is highly respected,” he said.
The governor disclosed that Imo’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had risen from ₦400 million to over ₦3 billion monthly.
He added that federal allocation had grown from between ₦5 billion and ₦7 billion in 2020 to ₦14 billion, while the state’s debt profile dropped from over ₦280 billion to less than ₦100 billion.
Uzodimma recalled that the state’s infrastructure was in collapse when he took office in 2020, saying his administration had since spent heavily on rebuilding roads and addressing insecurity.
On subsidy removal, he noted: “It is a thing of joy that we have started seeing the dividends of that bold decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove the fuel subsidy.
“What the government is confronted with now is how to ensure that the dividends of that policy trickle down to the common man on the street.”
He further announced that the state government would, from August 27, commence payment of the last batch of ₦16 billion gratuities owed to pensioners.
Uzodimma also highlighted reforms in the health sector, including health insurance schemes and upgraded facilities.
He said Imo had keyed into the Federal Government’s project of establishing 1,000 businesses in every INEC ward.
The governor urged labour leaders to maintain unity and warned workers against unethical practices and redundancy.
Reacting, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, described the wage increase as “a victory for the entire workforce in the state.”
“Today, no worker in Imo will say you (Uzodimma) have not been fair to us,” he said, assuring that workers would reciprocate the gesture with diligence and efficiency.
The chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Uchenna Ibe, also commended the governor for demonstrating “strong political will in taking up strong projects, including the increase in minimum wage.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
