By Abiola Olawale
Abia State Government has joined the league of state governments in Nigeria that has implemented an N70,000 minimum wage in Nigeria.
The Abia State Government on Tuesday announced that it would begin payment of the N70,000 minimum wage to its workers starting this October.
This announcement was made by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu.
Kanu disclosed this at the end of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
Kanu said that the decision of the State Government to pay the civil servants the new minimum wage as approved by the Federal Government underscores the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of workers in the state.
He said: “The state government is committed to the minimum wage, and within the next few days, payment of the new minimum wage will commence.”
He also noted that while the national minimum wage is the benchmark, the state is prepared to adjust as deemed necessary.
“If the Governor wants to deviate from the national standard and pay higher, so be it,” Kanu added.
This comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed a minimum wage bill into law in July 204, increasing the workers’ pay package from N30,000 to N70,000, into law.
