The organised labour in Abia has appealed to Governor Alex Otti to ensure the implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000 for some categories of workers.

The organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, made this appeal during the 2025 May Day celebration on Thursday in Umuahia.

The state NLC chairman, Ogbonnaya Okoro, delivered the joint address prepared by him and his TUC counterpart, Ihechi Enogwe.

Mr Okoro listed the people affected, including environmental health officers, health workers in the ministries, and Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba.

According to him, veterinary officers in the Ministry of Agriculture and local government areas, the Ministry of Social and Women Affairs and the Secondary Education Management Board are also affected.

Mr Okoro said the unions could not guarantee industrial peace in those sectors, for anything short of the minimum wage implementation.

He expressed deep appreciation to the governor for successfully negotiating and implementing the new minimum wage for the state and local government workers.

The NLC chairman further thanked the governor for his outstanding work since he assumed office, especially in infrastructural development, education and agriculture.

He further called the attention of the governor to the outstanding arrears of the minimum wage and its consequential adjustment.

Mr Okoro commended the governor for rolling out the contributory pension scheme for the state workers. He, however, urged the state government to complement the contributory pension scheme by contributing its own percentage.

Mr Okoro decried the arbitrary and high taxation on workers’ salaries while urging the governor’s intervention on what he described as “economic evil imposed on Abia workers.”

Responding, the governor said he had paid careful attention to all the requests and assured that they would be painstakingly considered.
Otti said that his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of workers in the state and appreciate them for their contributions to the economy.

He assured the workers of prompt and regular payment of their salaries, usually on or before the 28th of every month.

Mr Otti said his administration had since assumed office in 2023, defrayed over N30 billion salary arrears owed to workers by his predecessor.

He said the government would continue engaging and interacting with workers in building a new Abia.

(NAN)