The Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Cross River on Tuesday urged the state government to fully implement the federal government’s minimum wage.

Speaking with journalists in Calabar, chairman of the state’s chapter of TUC, Monday Ogbodum, decried the delay by the state government in implementing the scheme.

“The contentious issue here is the yet-to-be-released balance of N100 million from the N250 million as negotiated and agreed upon by stakeholders, including the government,” he said.

The federal government approved N30,000 as minimum wage for workers in 2019.

Mr Ogbodun noted that the union and government agreed that workers from Grade one to six would get a full minimum wage while those from seven to 17 would have percentage increases.

“While Grade Level 07 workers would have a 10 per cent increase, Grade Levels 08 and 09 would have 9 per cent and 8 per cent increases, respectively.

“Similarly, Grade Levels 10 to Grade Level 17 workers were to have a six per cent increase.

“Everything was worked out, and it amounted to N250 million, but the government released N150 million, with a promise to release the balance once the economy improves.”

He lamented that the government was yet to fulfil its promise after about three years.

He said it was disheartening that the state government had continually cited economic challenges as the excuse not to implement the scheme.

“This administration is the most favoured since the country’s return to democracy in 1999. It has gotten more money than any government since 2019,” he said.

Reacting to the demand, the government said it was not undermining workers’ patience and understanding but that the economy was still hazy, hence, its inability to release the balance of N100 million.

Effiong Umoh, Special Adviser on Labour to the governor, who stated this, told journalists that workers’ welfare remained the government’s top priority. 

(NAN)