Ebonyi State Government is to commence payment of the new national minimum wage to workers on January 1, 2020.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi who disclosed this while signing into law, the budget estimates for 2020 fiscal year at the Government House, Abakaliki, said his administration will pay priority attention to the welfare of workers in the State.
“We attach much importance to our workers, from January 1, 2020, we will commence the payment of the minimum wage to our workers”.
Explaining the paucity of funds in the State, the governor said the revenue base of the State will be explored to ensure the minimum wage is paid.
“We will increase our revenue base with a view of paying our minimum wage, we ask labour not to worry but, January 1 2020, we will commence payment of the minimum wage”, he assured.
At the occasion, the governor decried refusal of some highly placed persons in the state to pay taxes to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
He charged the state Internal Revenue Board to be aggressive in getting IGR for the state as according to him, there should be no sacred cow.
“There will be no sacred cow in this state in getting IGR . You pay in Abuja, pay in Lagos, pay in Enugu but when you come to Ebonyi, you will not pay. There will not be anything like that.
“I am ready to quarrel with anybody and Internal Revenue Board should use whatever that is of my interest and set example.
“There is so much that people are collecting but it is not remitted to government, we will not allow it to continue,” he said.
The governor said the 2019 budget performance was 60 percent, which he said is one of the highest in the country.
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