Uzodimma Approves N104,000 Minimum Wage for Imo Workers
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants in the state.
The governor announced the wage increase during a meeting with labour union leaders on Tuesday night at the Government House, Owerri.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the new minimum wage represents an upward review from the previous N76,000. Wages of medical doctors were also increased from N215,000 to N503,000, while lecturers in tertiary institutions will now earn a minimum of N222,000, up from N119,000.
Uzodimma noted that since assuming office in 2020, his administration had been confronted with insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardship, and disputes over wages and subsidy removal. He stressed that cordial relations with organised labour remained central to good governance.
“When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows. This is our way of investing in Imo people,” he said.
The governor disclosed that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had risen from N400 million to over N3 billion monthly, while federal allocations increased from between N5 billion and N7 billion in 2020 to N14 billion. He added that the state’s debt profile had dropped from over N280 billion in 2020 to less than N100 billion.
Uzodimma further announced that the state government would begin payment of the last batch of gratuities owed pensioners, amounting to N16 billion, on August 27. He highlighted reforms in the health sector, including the introduction of a health insurance scheme and the equipping of hospitals across the state.
The governor also revealed that Imo had keyed into the Federal Government’s initiative of establishing 1,000 businesses in every active INEC ward, while charging workers to eschew unethical practices and embrace productivity.
In his response, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, described the wage increment as “a victory for the entire workforce.”
“Today, no worker in Imo will say you (Uzodimma) have not been fair to us,” Nwigwe said, assuring that workers would reciprocate the gesture with more efficient service delivery.
Similarly, the state Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Uchenna Ibe, commended the governor for his political will in prioritising workers’ welfare.
With this adjustment, Imo State now ranks among states paying the highest minimum wage in Nigeria.
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