Imo Gov Approves N104,000 Minimum Wage for Civil Servants

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for state civil servants. The governor made the announcement during a meeting with labour union leaders on Tuesday night at the Government House in Owerri.

In addition to the new minimum wage, the governor also increased the minimum wages of doctors from N215,000 to N503,000 and those of teachers in tertiary institutions from N119,000 to N222,000. Uzodimma said the decision was aimed at investing in the welfare of Imo people and stimulating economic activities in the state.

The governor noted that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had increased significantly from N400 million to over N3 billion per month. He also stated that the state’s allocation from the federal government had increased from N5 billion to N7 billion in 2020 to N14 billion currently. Furthermore, Uzodimma said the state’s debt profile had reduced from over N280 billion in 2020 to less than N100 billion.

Uzodimma recalled that when he assumed office in 2020, the state’s infrastructure was in disrepair, but his administration had made significant progress in rebuilding the infrastructure and combating insecurity. He also acknowledged the challenges posed by the removal of fuel subsidy, but expressed optimism that the policy would yield dividends for the common man.

The governor announced that the state government would begin payment of N16 billion gratuity owed to pensioners on August 27. He also highlighted the administration’s efforts in implementing reforms in the health sector, including the introduction of a health insurance scheme and equipping health facilities.

The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, described the increase in minimum wage as “a victory for the entire workforce in the state.” He commended Uzodimma for being fair to workers and making Imo State one of the highest payers of minimum wage.