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Imo civil servants to earn N104,000 monthly as new minimum wage takes effect.
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Doctors’ salaries rise sharply to N503,000; tertiary institution teachers now earn N222,000.
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State IGR jumps to over N3 billion monthly; last batch of N16 billion gratuity to pensioners begins August 27.
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants, reflecting the current economic realities and the government’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
The governor announced the package during a meeting with labour union leaders at the Government House in Owerri on Tuesday night, stressing that no government can thrive without a cordial relationship with organised labour.
The wage increase raises the minimum for civil servants from N76,000 to N104,000. Doctors’ minimum wage has been increased from N215,000 to N503,000, while teachers in tertiary institutions will now receive N222,000, among other adjustments.
Governor Uzodimma acknowledged the challenges Imo citizens faced since 2020, including insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardships from reforms, and disputes over wages and subsidies. “We tried as a government to always keep in mind that there is no way any government will do well if it doesn’t have a friendly and cordial relationship with the organized labor,” he said.
He added that fair wages enhance productivity, improve family wellbeing, and stimulate the local economy, describing the policy as an investment in the people of Imo.
The governor further reported significant improvements in the state’s finances, noting that monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had grown from N400 million to over N3 billion. Federal allocations, which ranged from N5 billion to N7 billion in 2020, have now risen to N14 billion. Concurrently, the state’s debt has decreased from over N280 billion to under N100 billion.
Reflecting on infrastructure, Uzodimma recalled that key facilities had collapsed prior to his administration and highlighted extensive efforts to rehabilitate roads and address security challenges.
He also noted that the removal of the fuel subsidy had raised the cost of living but allowed the state to begin realising the benefits of President Bola Tinubu’s policy.
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The governor announced that the state would commence payment of the final N16 billion owed to pensioners on August 27.
He highlighted reforms in the health sector, including health insurance initiatives and facility upgrades, as well as the state’s involvement in the Federal Government’s project to establish 1,000 businesses in each active INEC ward.
