Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants, a significant increase from the previous N76,000.
The governor made the announcement during a meeting with leaders of various labour unions on Tuesday night at the Government House in Owerri, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Under the new wage structure, doctors’ salaries have been raised from N215,000 to N503,000, while lecturers and teachers in tertiary institutions will now earn N222,000, up from N119,000.
Governor Uzodimma highlighted the challenges faced by Imo citizens since his administration began in 2020, including insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardship, and the effects of subsidy removal. He emphasized that improving workers’ welfare is central to boosting productivity and stimulating the local economy.
“When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows. This is our way of investing in the people of Imo,” Uzodimma said.
The governor noted that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has grown from N400 million to over N3 billion monthly, while federal allocations have increased from N5-7 billion in 2020 to about N14 billion. He also revealed that the state’s debt profile had reduced from N280 billion in 2020 to under N100 billion.
As part of ongoing efforts to improve welfare, the governor announced that the state government would begin payment of the last batch of N16 billion gratuity owed to pensioners starting August 27.
Uzodimma further outlined reforms in the health sector, including the introduction of a health insurance scheme and the upgrade of medical facilities, alongside participation in the Federal Government initiative to establish 1,000 businesses in every active INEC ward.
Labour leaders praised the governor’s decision.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Mr. Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, described the wage increase as a “victory for the entire workforce,” noting that Imo now ranks among states paying the highest minimum wages in Nigeria.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Mr. Uchenna Ibe, also commended Uzodimma for his political will and commitment to workers’ welfare, pledging continued cooperation between labour and the government.
