Governor Hope Uzodimma has approved a significant increase in the minimum wage for Imo State civil servants, raising it from ₦76,000 to ₦104,000.
The announcement was made during a meeting held on Tuesday night at Government House, Owerri, with labor union leaders in attendance .
In the same move, doctors’ minimum salaries were revised upward from ₦215,000 to ₦503,000, while salaries for tertiary institution teachers rose from ₦119,000 to ₦222,000 .
Reflecting on the decision, Governor Uzodimma emphasized the importance of labour relations:
“There is no way any government will do well if it doesn’t have a friendly and cordial relationship with the organised labour. When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows. This is our way of investing in Imo people. Government believes in stimulating political and economic activities, carrying bureaucrats along, and making sure that workers’ welfare is highly respected.”
The governor cited the state’s improved financial outlook as justification for the raise, stating that internally generated revenue (IGR) surged from ₦400 million to over ₦3 billion monthly, while the debt burden fell from over ₦280 billion in 2020 to under ₦100 billion . He further lauded President Bola Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy, noting that though it raised living costs, it also increased allocations to states and made such reforms possible:
“It is a thing of joy that we have started seeing the dividends of that bold decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove fuel subsidy. What government is confronted with now is how to ensure that the dividends of that policy trickle down to the common man on the street.”
In addition, Governor Uzodimma confirmed that the state would begin disbursing the last ₦16 billion in gratuities owed to pensioners starting on August 27 .
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chairman for Imo State, Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, hailed the wage adjustments as “a victory for the entire workforce in the state.” He assured:
“Today, no worker in Imo will say you (Uzodimma) have not been fair to us. The governor has not only rescued workers from economic challenges with the pay hike but has also made the state one of the highest in terms of minimum wage.”
Nwigwe pledged that civil servants would respond with “more diligent, efficient, and effective service” .
