AKWA Ibom. The state administration has yet to initiate conversations with the State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, about the implementation of the new minimum wage.
This was revealed during separate conversations with Sunny James, Chairperson of the Akwa Ibom NLC, and Elder Effiong Essien, State Head of Civil Service, over the weekend in Uyo, the state’s capital.
The state NLC leader stated, “We have not started anything on the new minimum wage in Akwa Ibom, and the reason is quite clear.
“When new minimum wage legislation is introduced, the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC), in collaboration with the NLC’s Joint Public Service Negotiating Council and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), must convene and reach an agreement on consequential adjustments.
“We have a new minimum wage of N70,000, so there must be concomitant adjustments to ensure that the salary table flows seamlessly. If the 133 percentage is applied equitably, pay for Levels 14 and 15 will be extraordinarily substantial.”
Reacting to criticisms from some state governors that they would be unable to pay the new minimum salary of N70,000, James expressed hope that Organized Labour and state governments would eventually agree on the signed national minimum wage Law for Akwa Ibom workers.
“The governor of Akwa Ibom State will not complain because he cannot pay N70,000. And we cannot collect less than N70,000 as the new minimum pay. We will not accept it. However, the governor has not He maintained that he would not pay.
Similarly, when asked what the state government was doing to implement the new minimum wage, Elder Essien, Head of Civil Service, stated that discussions would begin as soon as the federal government released the circular on the consequential adjustment.
He stated, “The state administration is still waiting for the circular about the new minimum wage. You are aware that it has a process. Following the Act, the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission must issue a circular outlining the resultant advantages.
“So when the states receive that circular that is when the states will also prepare in house towards implementation of the new minimum wage”
When asked if Akwa Ibom will pay the N70,000 minimum wage, Elder Essien clarified that the governor would issue the decree.
Recall that the state governor, speaking to workers on May 1, 2024, stated that comments from the federal government will drive the state’s adoption of the new minimum wage.
