Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, has increased the state’s minimum wage from N76,000 to N104,000 for civil servants.
Governor Uzodimma also announced the increment in the doctors’ minimum wage from N215,000 to N503,000, while tertiary institution teachers minimum wages were raised from N119,000 to N222,000. According to the governor, there is no government that can succeed without a cordial relationship with the labour union.
Breakdown of the New Wages in Imo
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Civil Servants: Raised from N76,000 to N104,000
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Doctors: Increased from N215,000 to N503,000
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Tertiary Institution Lecturers: Moved from N119,000 to N222,000
He explained that the people of Imo have faced a series of challenges since his administration assumed office, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, insecurity, disputes over wages, economic hardship from reforms, and the subsidy removal.
The governor maintained that when workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy benefits. He described the new wage as an investment in Imo people, stressing his administration’s commitment to carrying workers along and respecting their welfare.
Uzodimma disclosed that Imo’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has grown from N400 million to over N3 billion monthly. He added that federal allocations which used to range between N5 billion and N7 billion in 2020 have now risen to about N14 billion.
The announcement came days after the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) threatened the federal government with a nationwide strike if workers’ funds allegedly diverted from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) were not refunded. The union also demanded the immediate constitution of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) governing board.
Meanwhile, former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, reportedly turned born again and now leads a church in Abuja called Rochas International Church, also known as Family Victory Chapel. His video preaching generated mixed reactions on social media, with many Nigerians questioning politicians who suddenly switch to religion after politics.
