The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has faulted the alleged partial implementation of the new minimum wage at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, where some categories of staff were reportedly excluded from the recent wage adjustment.
Ajaero, who spoke on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia, said non-teaching staff on levels 7 to 15 were denied the new wage benefits, unlike their colleagues on levels 1 to 6, who had already started receiving the adjusted salaries.
“Permit me to point out that the minimum wage promised and paid to Abia workers was denied to Abia State University on levels 7 to 15 of non-teaching staff, while levels 1 to 6 of both teaching and non-teaching staff benefited,” Ajaero stated.
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The NLC President said his visit was driven by “issues at a conscience level,” noting that the Congress had previously written to the governor over several labour-related concerns.
“We do our criticism to help any government that is concerned do more,” Ajaero added. “The issues of minimum wage, teachers’ salary structure, check-off dues, and health sector welfare are of paramount importance to us.”
He questioned why check-off dues had not been implemented despite the payment of arrears in some sectors, calling for transparency in the management of workers’ funds.
Ajaero, however, commended Governor Otti for developmental strides in Abia, saying such progress should reflect in the welfare and motivation of the state’s workforce.
“Definitely, things have improved in Abia. I think the state is not doing badly, and it should reflect on workers. Anybody entering Abia now will see a big difference,” he noted.
In response, Governor Alex Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, describing his government as labour-friendly.
“Our relationship with Labour has been very cordial. We all work for the same purpose — the welfare of the people, especially those who work for the government,” Otti said.
He revealed that the state recently recruited 5,394 new teachers and was in the process of employing 771 medical professionals to boost the education and health sectors.
“Interestingly, the minimum wage for teachers is higher than the ordinary minimum wage. We are also paying 16 years of outstanding death benefits to the next of kin of deceased Abia workers, along with pension arrears owed by previous administrations,” the governor added.
