By Nudoiba Ojen
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has said the state government will pay N80,000 minimum wage to civil servants.
Eno also constituted an Implementation committee with a mandate to deliver its report within one month.
A statement signed by the commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong, on Wednesday, said the committee was chaired by the Head of the Civil Service, Effiong Essien.
Ememobong said, “Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has announced that the State Government will pay a new minimum wage of N80,000 for all state government employees.
“To ensure a smooth rollout of this policy, the governor has also constituted an implementation committee, which has been given one month to deliver its report on how the wage increase will be executed.”
Heads of parastatals and ministries in the committee include the Chairman, State Civil Service Commission, Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Permanent Secretary, Department of Establishments and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning.
Others include Permanent Secretary/Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice, Permanent Secretary/Accountant General, Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Civil Service, Director of Budget, State Chairman, Joint Public Service Negotiating Council and Secretary, Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.
The list also includes the State Chairperson, Nigeria Labour Congress, Akwa Ibom State, State Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Akwa Ibom State, and State President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees.
Reacting to the announcement, the TUC chairman in the state, Comrade Dominic Abang, who described the N80,000 minimum wage as a welcome development, said the labour leaders would take it up from there.
Abang said, “I don’t want to give my reaction now, but I want to thank the governor for the announcement, it’s a welcome development and we will take it up from there”.
