The Akwa Ibom State Government has assured its workers that it will pay the new minimum wage agreed upon by the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress.
This promise was made by the State Head of Service, Elder Effiong Essien, during a press briefing on Wednesday to mark the 2024 Public Service Week.
Essien stated that the state government has always been supportive of its workers and has been paying the previous minimum wage in 2019, even above the agreed national rate.
“When the issue of minimum wage came up last time, we were among the first states to pay in 2019, even above what was agreed at the national. We’ll declare what we’ll pay once the new minimum wage is announced,” he said.
The Head of Service also expressed gratitude to Governor Umo Eno for allowing the state to join the global celebration of Public Service Week, which he said had not been observed in the state for the past 10 years.
He listed the governor’s worker-friendly initiatives to include the prompt release of over N18 billion for outstanding pensions, gratuities, and leave grants, regular settlement of workers’ entitlements, and the release of promotions and conduct of service examinations.
