Enugu State Workers Now Receiving N80,000 Minimum Wage, Labour Leaders Address Pending Adjustments
Workers in Enugu State have officially started receiving the newly approved minimum wage of N80,000, with labour leaders in the state confirming that the implementation began in November 2024.
The leaders, however, took the opportunity to address concerns regarding discrepancies in the wage structure, specifically the lack of consequential adjustments, which they expect to be resolved in due course.
The announcement was made in a joint statement issued on Tuesday by key labour leaders, including Fabian Nwigbo, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Enugu State; Ben Asogwa, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state; and Ezekiel Omeh, Chairman of the Enugu State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council. The statement served to clarify that the Enugu State government had indeed paid the new N80,000 minimum wage to workers, contrary to reports suggesting otherwise.
The labour leaders acknowledged that the state government had complied with the governor’s directive to implement the N80,000 minimum wage, which was reflected in the salaries paid in November 2024. They noted that this was a significant step forward for workers in the state, who had been eagerly awaiting the payment. However, the leaders also pointed out that while the N80,000 was being paid, it did not yet incorporate the necessary consequential adjustments that are typically part of a wage increase implementation. They assured that these discrepancies had been communicated to the governor, and they were optimistic that the governor would act swiftly to address them.
In their statement, the labour leaders said, “We want to acknowledge the fact that the Enugu State government paid the N80,000 minimum wage approved by the governor in the November 2024 salary.” They added that, “As labour leaders, we have already communicated to His Excellency the observed discrepancies, and in his usual magnanimity towards the welfare of workers, we strongly believe that he will address this subsequently.”
The leaders also emphasized that, until the introduction of the N80,000 minimum wage in November, the state government had been paying a wage award of N25,000, which was approved by the governor. This wage award was in effect from December 2023 until October 2024, when the new minimum wage was adopted and reflected in workers’ salaries for the first time in November. The wage award was meant as an interim measure until the new minimum wage could be fully implemented.
While labour leaders acknowledged the government’s compliance with the wage payment, they reiterated the importance of addressing the pending adjustments to ensure that workers receive the full benefits of the new minimum wage. They expressed confidence that the governor, who has been responsive to workers’ concerns in the past, would take prompt action to resolve the issue.
The statement concluded with a note of optimism, as the labour leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for the well-being of workers in the state and ensuring that the state government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare remains a top priority.
