Abia State Government and Organized Labour Finalize New Minimum Wage Agreement
The Abia State Government and Organized Labour have reached a final agreement on the corrected implementation of the new National Minimum Wage and its consequential salary adjustments, ensuring fair compensation for civil servants across all levels.
The new agreement, signed at the Government House, Umuahia, marks the resolution of discrepancies that previously affected civil servants on salary grades 8 to 17, whose wage increments were not fully reflected in the initial implementation.
Abia State was one of the first states in Nigeria to implement the new National Minimum Wage in October 2024. However, inconsistencies were observed, particularly among workers in higher salary grades.
Upon being informed of the issue, Governor Alex Otti immediately constituted a committee to engage with Organized Labour and rectify the discrepancies.
After weeks of negotiations and recalculations, an agreement was reached and signed on Friday, February 14, 2025.
The signing ceremony was led by Caleb Ajagba, Chief of Staff to Governor Otti, who represented the governor. He assured workers of the government’s dedication to their welfare and urged them to reciprocate with renewed commitment to service.
“From the beginning of this negotiation to today’s signing, we have remained focused on our vision for a better Abia. We believe that every Abia worker will now see that to whom much is given, much is also expected,” Ajagba stated.
The Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abia State Chapter, Okoro Ogbonnaya, expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for honoring his promises to workers.
“Since December 6, 2024, when the governor met with over 115 labour leaders, he has shown a strong commitment to ensuring that Abia workers are well-placed,” Ogbonnaya said.
He highlighted that the initial salary adjustments only benefited workers on levels 1 to 7, leaving levels 8 to 17 with discrepancies. With the signing of the corrected structure, a new circular will be issued by the Head of Service to ensure all workers receive their rightful salaries.
“Every civil servant in Abia will rejoice with this development. The presence of all key government officials and labour leaders today is proof that this was done in unity and fairness,” Ogbonnaya added.
The agreement signing was attended by top government officials and labour leaders, including:
• Benson Ojiekere – Head of Service
• Uwaoma Ukandu – Commissioner for Finance
• Njum Onyemenam – Accountant General of Abia State
• Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu – Principal Secretary to the Governor
• Ferdinand Ekeoma – Special Adviser on Media and Publicity
• Godson Anucha – Senior Special Assistant on Labour Relations
• Ihechi Enogwe – Chairperson, Trade Union Congress (TUC)
With this historic wage correction, Abia State workers can now enjoy fair and equitable salaries, reinforcing Governor Otti’s commitment to workers’ welfare and good governance.
