Abia State government has finally given a definite commitment that it would start paying the new minimum wage of 70,000 to its workers with effect from this October.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu announced this yesterday while briefing the press on the outcome of this week meeting of the State Executive Council(SEC), saying that payment of the minimum wage was in line with Governor Alex Otti’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
“Baring any unforeseen circumstances, the state government will commence the payment of the new minimum wage this month of October,” he said.
“There is now hope that within the next couple of days, everything being equal, payment of minimum wage will commence,” Kanu added.
This translates that the implementation of the new minimum wage would be reflected in the October salary of Abia workers, all things being equal.
However, workers are still in the dark as to the consequential adjustments chart that government would use in the implementation of the new minimum wage since the report of the committee set up by the governor has not submitted its report.
Kanu also announced that government has listed nine roads with total length of 75.03km for eithet construction or reconstruction across the three senatorial districts of the state in continuation of expansion of rural infrastructure.
He said that six of the earmatked roads are slated for construction while reconstruction work would be carried out on the remaining three.
The information Commissioner equally stated that the State Environmental Protection Agency(ASEPA) has recorded giant strides in efforts to keep the state clean, especially the three major cities of Abia – Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia.
He said that this laudable achievement by ASEPA has attracted the attention of the UN Habitat which has consequently invited the agency and the Greater Aba Development Authority(GADA) to a conference holding in Egypt.
According to him, the UN Habitat wants the two Abia agencies “to come and tell the Abia story of success in waste disposal in Aba and Umuahia”.
“Government is happy that people outside the country are appreciative of what the Governor Alex Otti is doing in the state.” he said.
The General Manager of ASEPA, Mazi Ogbonnia Okereke corroborated the information commissioner, saying that Abia has performed well in waste management and general cleanliness in the last 17 months of the administration.
“Aba has been identified today as a model of the movement from a dirty to a clean city . We have been asked to come and tell our story first hand at a United Nations’ forum.
“You can imagine the kind of perception and reputational capital that will accrue to Abia State from our participation in this conference,” he said.