The Abia State Government has announced its plan to commence payment of the new N70,000 minimum wage to workers starting in October 2024.
The PUNCH reported that this development was made public during a press briefing on Tuesday by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, following a State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti on Monday.
Prince Kanu emphasized that the decision reflects the government’s strong commitment to enhancing the living standards of its workforce.
“The state government is committed to the minimum wage, and within the next few days, payment of the new minimum wage will commence,” Kanu stated during the briefing, signaling the administration’s readiness to implement the wage adjustment swiftly.
While the national minimum wage of N70,000 serves as a reference point, Kanu hinted that Governor Otti may go beyond the national standard if he sees fit, demonstrating the administration’s willingness to be flexible in favor of its employees.
“If the governor wants to deviate from the national standard and pay higher, so be it,” Kanu added, highlighting the governor’s autonomy in determining worker compensation.
The Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Sunny Onwuma, also confirmed the state’s readiness to begin paying the new minimum wage.
His comments reinforced the administration’s resolve to ensure that workers receive their due compensation without delay.
In addition to the minimum wage announcement, Prince Kanu revealed that the government has greenlit the procurement of nine new road construction projects spread across the state’s three senatorial zones.
This infrastructure push is seen as a key part of Governor Otti’s broader agenda to spur economic growth and improve road connectivity across Abia State.
Kanu also highlighted the progress of the “Clean Up Abia Initiative,” a project spearheaded by the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, aimed at maintaining cleanliness in the state’s major cities, including Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia.
According to Kanu, ASEPA has been instrumental in deploying over 100 waste receptacles across the state between July and September, extending its reach to areas like the Lokpanta abattoir in Umunneochi LGA, as well as abattoirs in Uzuakoli and Arochukwu.
This initiative is part of the state’s broader effort to improve environmental sanitation and public health.
In a nod to the success of these environmental management efforts, Kanu announced that the United Nations Habitat had invited the Greater Aba Development Authority and ASEPA to an international conference in Egypt.
The invitation acknowledges Abia’s achievements in sustainable environmental practices, giving the state a platform to share its model with a global audience.
