Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has officially approved a substantial upward review of the minimum wage for civil servants in the state, setting the new wage at N104,000. This represents a major leap from the former N76,000, positioning Imo among the states offering the highest minimum wage in Nigeria.
The governor made this declaration on Tuesday during a high-level meeting with leaders of various labour unions at the Government House in Owerri. The announcement was received with visible excitement by union representatives and workers who had long advocated for improved pay amidst rising economic pressures.
In addition to the general minimum wage adjustment, Uzodimma also approved significant increments for specialized professions. Medical doctors on the state payroll will now earn a minimum of N503,000, a dramatic rise from N215,000, while lecturers and other academic staff in tertiary institutions will see their pay increase from N119,000 to N222,000. These adjustments reflect what the governor described as his administration’s commitment to prioritizing critical sectors such as health and education.
Addressing the gathering of labour leaders, Uzodimma gave a detailed account of the challenges his administration has faced since assuming office. He pointed to insecurity issues that destabilized parts of the state, the COVID-19 pandemic which strained resources, the broader economic downturn linked to national policy reforms, and long-standing disputes concerning wages, subsidies, and arrears. Despite these hurdles, the governor stressed that his administration had consistently sought dialogue and cooperation with organised labour.
“We tried as a government to always put it behind our mind that 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 why we placed workers’ welfare at the centre of our policies,” Uzodimma stated.
The governor also highlighted the marked improvements in the financial health of the state. According to him, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which stood at around N400 million when he assumed office, has now surged to more than N3 billion monthly. Similarly, allocations from the federal government, which used to fluctuate between N5 billion and N7 billion in 2020, have increased significantly to about N14 billion. He attributed these gains to reforms in fiscal discipline, efficiency in revenue collection, and plugging financial leakages.
He further revealed that the state’s debt burden had been drastically reduced from over N280 billion to less than N100 billion. This financial restructuring, he said, created the fiscal space that allowed the government to accommodate the new wage structure without destabilizing the economy of the state.
On the issue of pensions and gratuities, Uzodimma assured workers that his government was committed to addressing all outstanding obligations. He announced that the last batch of gratuity payments, amounting to N16 billion, would commence on August 27, bringing relief to retirees who had been waiting for their entitlements.
In the health sector, the governor rolled out a series of reforms, including the establishment of a state health insurance scheme and the upgrading of facilities across hospitals and clinics. These, he explained, are aimed at ensuring affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare for residents of Imo State.
Uzodimma also appealed to labour leaders to foster unity within their ranks, maintain harmonious relations with the government, and continue to uphold ethical standards in their duties, emphasizing that collaboration between government and workers is the only way to sustain long-term progress.
Reacting to the announcement, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo State, Mr. Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, described the wage increase as a “historic victory for the entire workforce in the state.” He praised the governor for listening to the plight of workers and taking bold steps to improve their livelihoods. Nwigwe also noted that the new wage policy places Imo at the forefront of states championing workers’ welfare in Nigeria, at a time when many are struggling to meet their obligations due to economic constraints.
The development has been widely lauded across the state, with analysts predicting that the wage increase will boost purchasing power, stimulate local businesses, and foster overall economic growth in Imo. Workers expressed gratitude to the governor, while urging him to ensure consistent and timely payment of the new wage structure.