More than a week after signing an agreement with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to start paying the new minimum wage in December 2024, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has withdrawn his intentions.
The new minimum pay for workers in the state was approved by Governor Eno at N80,000, which is N10,000 more than the federally mandated national wage of N70,000.
He maintained that only after personnel verification could the new minimum salary be put into effect. Instead, Eno had reportedly offered staff compensation in the form of the 13th month’s paycheck.
But more than a week ago, Mr. Eno gave in to pressure from the state’s labor unions and signed a deal that would start paying in December, with November arrears due in the first quarter of 2025. In a dramatic turn of events, Mr. Eno withdrew his offer on Friday, December 13, stating that personnel verification must be completed before payment can begin. This could result in a labor dispute. However, he accepted the arrangement while stating that he cannot be forced to carry it out when he spoke at the State Christmas Carols in Uyo on Friday night.
Because we would not start paying the new structure even though it starts from November we would not start paying until we finished (staff) verification,” he said, reneging on the agreement he signed with Labour in the state.
“Nobody will force me to do that. I must know the number of workers that are in the civil service in the state. And so Labour gives that to me tonight we start paying tomorrow.
“So don’t let anybody confuse you if they tell you to come and block Government House. Block it, work will still go on. You must understand that we must do the right thing,”
he said.
He cautioned the Labour leaders, claiming to be on the verification committee, against postponing the exercise. The advantages of enacting the new minimum wage, according to Sunny James, the state’s NLC chairperson, greatly exceed the 13th month compensation. Mr. James stated in an interview with PremiumTimes on Saturday, December 14, that labor and the governor had reached an agreement for the increased minimum wage to be paid starting this month, in December.
“That is the wording of the agreement. That is what I understand but from that day till today for those who are in Akwa Ibom there is a very serious cold war between labour and the State Government.”