Abia State Yet to Implement New Minimum Wage, Governor Otti Explains Why
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has shed light on the delay in implementing the new N70,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the state. Speaking to journalists at Government House in Umuahia, Otti attributed the holdup to a wait for directives from the central labor organization.
According to Otti, the committee established to work with labor unions in the state is waiting for guidance from the national labor leadership, which has caused a holdup in negotiations. He expressed his support for the new minimum wage and assured that it would be implemented soon.
“We believe in the new minimum wage, and it should happen very soon. The issue at the moment is that the committee we set up to work with labor has been waiting for labor, and labor in Abia has been waiting for labor at the center,” Otti explained. “They said they would like to get a directive from the center before they resume their talks with the committee. So, we are waiting.”
Regarding outstanding salary arrears owed by previous administrations, Governor Otti promised to settle them from August as funds become available. However, he emphasized that those responsible for the debts should be held accountable, rather than the current administration.
“The arrears of salaries frankly speaking should have been taken care of by those who owed them. Somebody owed the salaries, and you are holding somebody else responsible. Is that fair?” Otti questioned. “So, when you come to speak because somebody has offered to clean the mess of somebody else, I think we should be a bit measured.”
Otti also clarified that some of the outstanding arrears, ranging from 33 to 36 months, were only recently disclosed. He highlighted his efforts to clear the arrears, including paying civil servants’ salaries from January to March and entering into arrangements with affected institutions.
“We have given instructions that the payment of arrears of salaries should start from August. If they have not been paid, it is not because money was not made available. I have made money available. Maybe there are things they are verifying. I believe in a few days, those payments must happen. And once they start happening, that of September would follow suit, and the rest of them will happen,” Otti assured.
The governor reiterated his commitment to addressing inherited debts, emphasizing that his administration is working to clear the arrears as resources become available.
