Akwa Ibom State government has reiterated its readiness to pay its workers who have successfully completed verification exercise the N80,000 New Minimum Wage with effect from January 2025.
This might have come as a response to threat by Organised Labour comprising Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Akwa Ibom in a press release urging the government to implement the deal since the exercise has been completed or face strike.
Eno announced this at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom Council’s Thanksgiving Service held at The Apostolic Church, Ikot Ekpene Udo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area on Sunday, January 19, said he would pay arrears from November 2024, the effective date.
Though Organised Labour had threatened to embark on Strike action over delay by the state government to pay the new Minimum Wage in December 2024, the body bowed to pressure when Governor Eno vowed not to pay it until verification exercise of workers was completed.
Last week, the state NLC Secretary, Comrade Alpha Marshall had announced the discovery of 2,000 ghost workers in the payroll of the government and commended the government for undertaking the exercise.
However, during the Thanksgiving Service, Governor Eno announced that having completed the Verification Exercise Committee headed by Elder Effiong Essien who is also the Head of Civil Service, the committee would submit a formal report to the government on Monday, January 20.
“About the issues of my workers, we knew certainly that we will pay workers N80,000 as we promised, but we only said that we should do verification. I have heard that the report has been submitted and will be presented to me tomorrow by the Head of Service.
“Once that report is presented, for those that were verified, we will pay from 1st November, this January. It does not need any letter from anybody. Don’t let anybody deceive you that they are the ones who persuaded us to pay. If you haven’t been verified into the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service, we will not pay you, irrespective of threats of strike action. For those that have been verified, this January, we will pay you from 1st November. That has been our commitment,” the Governor stated.
He recalled his administration’s efforts towards clearing the N97 billion backlog of gratuities and other arrears of entitlements of workers in the State, as well as other expression of goodwill towards Civil Servants in the State, reassuring of government’s priority on the welfare of the Akwa Ibom workforce, in keeping with his pact to reciprocate their support towards his emergence as governor.
“We have a pact with Akwa Ibom workers and we are on course. We will work with you and ensure that your welfare is paramount and continues to be paramount, because we know that you’re our backbone. Don’t let anyone mislead you,” he said.
He appealed to all stakeholders to imbibe the spirit of encouraging leaders rather than embarking on destructive criticisms, saying that encouragement and motivation are veritable tools to enhance performance.
Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Amos Etuk, in his thanksgiving speech, expressed gratitude of members and leadership of the Union under his watch to God for the special grace to maintain the fourth estate of the realm, amid mounting challenges.
He also thanked Governor Umo for making the work of Journalism easier for them through his media friendly disposition.
The Chairman said Governor Eno is the first sitting Governor to attend the Union’s thanksgiving service, and also the first to attend any NUJ’s event in person since the past 12 years.
Comrade Amos Etuk speaking
Etuk said the hosting of the 2025 Thanksgiving Service in Ikot Ekpene Udo was the Unions way of honouring the Governor and assured that Journalists in the State will continue to ensure a collaborative working relationship with the Umo Eno-led administration in the State and promote the aspirations of the ARISE Agenda.
