Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has reiterated that his administration would implement the payment of the proposed N30,000 minimum wage to civil servants in the State , if President Buhari assents to the bill passed by the National Assembly.
Umahi made the declaration in Abakaliki the State capital on Saturday during a Town Hall meeting conveyed by the State Government for organized labour comprising Nigeria labour Congress/ Trade Union Congress, Pensioneers, and Students Union, respectively.
According to him,”Ebonyi State will pay Minimum Wage ahead of other States , it is not negotiable, if Ekitti , Zamfara States can pay minimum wage, we will pay when the time comes.
“I am already on the implementation of the Minimum Wage, Nigeria economy is bad , the only way is for all hands to be on deck”
He said that the State Government will inaugurate a committee on the implementation of the new Minimum Wage 48 hours Mr President signs the bill into law.
“Within the first 48 hours that President Buhari signs the Minimum Wage , I will set up a committee on its implementation” he reiterated.
Speaking against the backdrop of the payment of gratuity, pension, and Leave Allowance to civil servants, the Chief Executive maintained that his administration started paying gratuity owed to workers since the creation of the State in 1996.
” We have started paying gratuity to every worker in our public service, we have paid 40 percent”
On issues of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Governor Umahi emphasized that citizens of the State were reluctant to pay taxes stating “Our people don’t pay taxes , I don’t want to force them, we must develop the minds of our people in that direction”
In his reaction, the Ebonyi State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioneers Ebonyi State chapter Chief Donatus Okemini, debunked insinuations in some quarters that pensioneers were not happy with the Government, insisting that the numerous welfare packages and other benefits accruing to workers were worthwhile.
The meeting had in attendance representatives of students union , Pensioneers, members of the organised labour in the State among others.
