Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants in the state. The announcement was made on Tuesday night during a meeting with various labour union leaders at the Government House in Owerri.
The governor said the decision was taken in response to the prevailing economic realities in Nigeria and to strengthen the relationship between the government and organised labour.
The new wage package increases the minimum wage from N76,000 to N104,000. In addition, the minimum wage of doctors has been raised from N215,000 to N503,000, while that of teachers in tertiary institutions was increased from N119,000 to N222,000, among others.
Uzodimma stressed the importance of maintaining a cordial relationship with workers in order to achieve sustainable development. “We tried as a government to always keep in mind that there is no way any government will do well if it doesn’t have a friendly and cordial relationship with the organized labor,” he said.
He added that good welfare packages for workers boost productivity, improve family well-being, and contribute to economic growth. “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,” the governor stated.
Speaking on the state’s finances, Uzodimma revealed that Imo’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had grown significantly from N400 million to over N3 billion monthly.
He also noted that federal allocations increased from N5 billion to N7 billion in 2020, to the current N14 billion. According to him, the state’s debt profile had also dropped from over N280 billion to less than N100 billion.
The governor recalled that when he assumed office in 2020, major infrastructure in the state had collapsed. He said his administration had invested heavily in rebuilding roads and tackling insecurity. He acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidy had worsened the cost of living but explained that it came with benefits.
“It’s a thing of joy that we have started seeing the dividends of that bold decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove 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,” Uzodimma said.
He further disclosed that the state government would commence payment of the last batch of gratuities amounting to N16 billion owed to pensioners on August 27.
He also highlighted reforms in the health sector, which include the launch of health insurance schemes and the equipping of medical facilities to ensure improved healthcare delivery for Imo citizens.
Uzodimma mentioned that his administration had aligned with the Federal Government’s project of establishing 1,000 businesses in every active INEC ward to promote entrepreneurship and economic development.
The governor urged labour unions to unite and foster strong relations with the state government, while also encouraging workers to add value to their services.
He cautioned against unethical practices and redundancy in the workplace, stressing the need for accountability and commitment among the workforce.