BY: Ikenna Oluka
The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has reiterated his resolve to pay the new minimum wage of N30,000 to the state workforce but said that the implementation will only be effective when the guidelines for the minimum wage were released by the Federal Government.
He made the declaration during the Workers Day celebration held at Ekwueme Square in Awka, Anambra State capital.
Obiano said: “We have never failed to pay salaries, come rain come shine. We have cleared outstanding pensions that had accumulated for over 25 years, from the inception of our state. We have continued to give out bags of rice to workers to give everyone a sense of belonging during Christmas seasons.
“The Mass Transit buses we provided have made life more bearable to our workers. And in the middle of all these, we are carrying out the renovation of our secretariat to give it a proper facelift.
“I have formally declared the intention of my administration to pay the newly approved minimum wage in Anambra State.
“I will begin the implementation once the guidelines for the payment of the minimum wage are released by the Federal Government.”
The Governor said his administration was intent in offering better opportunities that would improve the welfare of workers in the state.
He regretted that the issue of unemployment has forced youths into crimes saying that the trend should not be allowed to continue to avoid the doom it may bring on the economy, politics and the social strata.
Obiano explained that for government to overcome the unemployment crises, there is need for more auto centric and pro-growth policies geared towards attracting and improving private sector investment.
Earlier in his address, the State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Jerry Nnubia, hailed the governor for his quality and visionary leadership, especially in the area of security, which had attracted various investors for the economic growth of the state.
He called on the national salaries, income and wages commission to urgently issue the implementation table to enable the governor make good his promise of implementing the new minimum wage for workers.