Umahi Pays 30,000 New Minimum Wages To Ebonyi Workers
By Joyce Aroh, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State government on Friday commenced payment of January salaries to workers with the new minimum wage making the state the first to pay the new salary structure in the state.
Some workers in the state capital, Abakaliki confirmed getting alerts of their January salaries with the new salaries structure.
It will be recalled that Governor David Umahi during the week that the January salaries of workers be paid with the new salaries structure adopted between Organized Labour in the state and government on or before the 10 January
While giving the directive, Mr Umahi’s had said the early payment was to aid the workers to commence the New year after the spending they may have done during the Yuletide period.
Commissioner for Information, Uchenna Orji confirmed the payment of the salaries to the workers.
He said that since the governor’s first term, the state government have always paid salaries before 15 of every month.
“But because the governor wanted to assist the workers after they might have spent alot during the Christmas period, he decided that the workers be paid before 10th January to assist them get back on their feet”
With this payment, the governor has made history as about the first governor to implement the new minimum wage in Nigeria.
He said that all civil servants in the state including local government workers have all been paid effective from today (Friday).
“Also, all government appointees have also been paid their January salaries. This include, members of the state Executive Council, and other appointees of government”,
“The governor has the welfare of workers at heart. He believes this will spur them to perform better”, Orji said
Mr Orji also said the governor had in the past released over N4bn for workers to access as soft loan and grants to enable them to set up agric businesses to boost their finances.
Mr Orji who is also the acting Commissioner for Human Capital Developmental said the state government have commenced enumeration of employable Ebonyians so as to enable them key into interventions of government.
