The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti on Tuesday, during a high-level meeting with leaders of workers' unions in the State, announced that his administration will pay both December salary and 13th month salary to State workers before December 20.
The Governor who reiterated his administration's dedication to ensuring the well being of workers, emphasized their important role as partners in Abia development, and instructed that the salary structure for the new national minimum wage be reviewed to correct the errors observed in the consequential adjustments.
"I want to make this announcement just like we did last year, that this year, we will pay the 13th month salary.
"I have instructed my team to revisit the salary structure and address the issues identified. In the coming days we will engage with the leadership of the organized labour to finalize necessary adjustments", Governor Otti said.
However, he frowned at the listing of Abia State as one of the States yet to start implementation of the new minimum wage, and stated that Abia is one of the first States to implement same right from October, 2024.
The Governor while reacting to the issues of Abia pensioners who after receiving their many years of pension arrears in line with the agreement entered with government now turned to accuse government of deceiving them, noted that his administration met unpaid arrears of pension dating from 2014 and was able to defray them.
He stated that from April this year, Abia pensioners have been receiving their full pension on the 28th of every month.
"The first time I met with the NUP leadership, they were clear to me to say that what was important to them was to be able to plan, so if the government would commit to paying them 100 percent of their pension from that month, we should forget about the arrears, and I felt it was not fair".
Governor Otti appreciated the Abia workforce for their significant role in transforming the State, and noted that the meeting provided opportunity to engage directly with workers.
In his remarks, the Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress, Abia State Chapter, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro expressed gratitude to the Governor for his decision to correct the errors observed in the payment of the new minimum wage, and his commitment to worker's welfare.
He assured Governor Otti that the workers will not relent in their support to his administration in the State.
The meeting attracted the presence of top government officials including the Deputy Governor of the State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, and leaders of the affiliate unions under the NLC, Trade union Congress and joint negotiating council.
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