Governor Umo Eno’s Gift to Akwa Ibom Workers: The N80,000 Minimum Wage Reality

Governor Umo Eno’s Gift to Akwa Ibom Workers: The N80,000 Minimum Wage Reality

By Mfonobong Ukpong

In a ground breaking move, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD on Tuesday 21st January 2025 authorized the commencement of payment of N80,000 minimum wage to public service workers works in the State. The payment which is to begin at the end of this month is backdated to November 2024 as earlier promised by the Governor.

This means, workers in the State employ will receive their November and December arrears alongside their January salary to be paid under the new minimum wage.

The Governor’s pronouncement follows the submission of the report by the Committee on the Implementation of the New Minimum Wage/Personnel Verification, headed by the Head of Service, Elder Effiong Essien.

It should be noted that 45 000 duly verified public service workers are to benefit from the new minimum wage. The decision to verify actual workers in the State employ became necessary to identify and weed out ghost workers from the system, and the verification team did a good job as about 2000 ghost workers were identified at the end of the verification exercise. This shocking discovery highlights the need for a thorough verification exercise. The move demonstrates the governor’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of state resources.

Before the Tuesday pronouncement, the Governor had on Sunday in his hometown, Ikot Ekpene Udo during a thanksgiving service by the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ held at the Apostolic Church hinted of his readiness to pay the minimum wage as soon as he received the report of the verification panel. Reacting to concerns earlier raised by the NLC in a letter circulated on the social media, the Governor had maintained that there was no need for the agitation as he had already assured Labour of his commitment to the payment of the new minimum wage.

This latest development is a significant boost to the welfare of workers in the state and a testament to the governor’s commitment to their well-being.

The move is expected to bring relief to workers who have been struggling to make ends meet due to the harsh economic conditions in the country.

As the state embarks on this new journey, workers can look forward to a brighter future, and the economy is expected to experience a positive boost. The increased disposable income of workers will likely stimulate economic activity, leading to growth and development.

The governor’s commitment to transparency and accountability is also worthy of note. The verification exercise that led to the identification of ghost workers is a step in the right direction, and it is expected that this move will help to block leakages in the state’s finances.

The identification and elimination of ghost workers will also help to ensure that the state’s resources are utilized efficiently. This move will free up resources that can be channeled into critical areas such as infrastructure development, education, and healthcare.

As Akwa Ibom State continues to evolve and grow, the implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage is a significant step in the right direction. With Governor Eno’s commitment to workers’ welfare, the state is poised for a brighter future.

The Governor’s decision to implement the N80,000 minimum wage is a laudable move that will have a positive impact on the lives of Akwa Ibom workers. As the State moves forward, It is essential to sustain this momentum and continue to prioritize the welfare of workers.

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