On Thursday, the Imo State government announced that it has been paying its workers a minimum wage of N40,000. This statement was made by the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, in Owerri, in response to allegations from the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that Imo was among the states not paying the minimum wage.
Emelumba clarified that Imo State has been paying the N30,000 minimum wage since 2020 and has since increased it by an additional N10,000, bringing the total to N40,000.
He stated, “Even the Imo State chapter of the NLC has confirmed that workers in the state have been receiving the N30,000 minimum wage since 2020. Following the removal of fuel subsidy, the minimum wage was increased to N40,000.”
Emelumba criticized the NLC National Secretariat for spreading false information, noting that Imo State workers have acknowledged receiving the N40,000 minimum wage. The organized labor in Imo State also refuted reports from its national headquarters, stating that the state has been compliant with the minimum wage requirements since 2020.
In a statement signed by Comrade Uche Chigemezu Nwigwe, Chairman of the Imo State chapter of the NLC, it was confirmed that Governor Hope Uzodimma has been paying an additional N10,000 to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
“Since 2020, Imo State workers have received a minimum wage of N30,000. To alleviate their suffering, the government increased this to N40,000. Those claiming Imo State has not implemented the N30,000 minimum wage are attempting to create friction between the workers and their leadership,” Nwigwe said.
The Commissioner also mentioned that the only outstanding issue is the payment of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage, which Governor Uzodimma has already approved.
Emelumba urged the public to disregard the false claims, affirming that Imo workers are satisfied with their governor, who has committed to paying the new national minimum wage once negotiations are finalized.
