Enugu State Government Extends Wage Award Till New Minimum Wage Takes Effect

Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah

Nigerian governor delays payment of wage awards till new minimum wage is established

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has pledged to keep paying wage awards to state employees until the committee on a new minimum wage has finished its course.

The governor made the promise on Saturday at the Old Government House in Enugu during the Town Hall meeting with the people of Enugu.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the governor started paying state employees their wage award, which ranges from N10,000 to N25,000, in December of last year in order to mitigate the impact of the loss of fuel subsidies.

According to NAN, a number of people attended the town hall meeting, including women, students, young people, company owners, traders, transport unions, and members of civil society organizations.

Mr. Mbah promised to establish values that would support workers' well-being and to prioritize the welfare of workers in his government.

“Until new minimum wage is concluded, we will continue to pay wage award,” he stated.

The governor clarified that he didn't waste time in paying the pension and gratuity arrears that his administration inherited from retiring civil officials.

“Today we are working seriously to clear that of primary school teachers and Local Government workers.

“This is why we are building SMART Schools across 260 wards which will be operational by September, 2025,” Mr. Mbah stated in reference to his administration's recognition of education as the most effective tool in the fight against poverty.

“Our children will now be using tablets to study and teachers smart boards to teach while the student would learn about artificial intelligence, robotics and others that will make them technological inclined,” he said.

The governor announced that in an effort to lower baby and maternal mortality in the state, level two Primary Health Centers are being constructed throughout the 260 wards by the government.

According to Mr. Mbah, it has already granted 30 contracts to health centers and is set to grant an additional 100.

Regarding energy, the governor revealed that efforts were being made by the state to produce and distribute electricity in order to supply power to residences and companies inside the state.

Additionally, Mr. Mbah promised to create a plan to maintain the state's Scholarship Board while also guaranteeing pupils palliative care.