Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has made a significant move to improve the lives of workers in the state by approving a minimum wage of N75,000, exceeding the president’s approved sum of N70,000.
In a statement, Tersoo Kula, the governor’s chief press secretary, said Alia reached the decision after meeting with members of the organised labour at the State Secretariat in Makurdi on Monday, November 18.
Kula added that the governor has also promised to pay the remaining three months of the five-month backlog of arrears inherited by his administration.
According to him, the payment would be implemented alongside the new minimum wage, starting in November 2024.
The governor’s aide stated that the initiative is expected to ease the hardships state workers face to make ends meet. He further highlighted that the governor’s primary motivation is prioritising workers’ welfare.
Kula further said the decision to peg the new minimum wage at N75,000 followed concerns raised by organised labour during negotiations concerning wage awards, transportation allowances, tax relief, and work-off days....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
He said by exceeding the president’s approved sum, the governor has shown that he is willing to listen to workers’ needs and take concrete steps to address them.
Kula described the governor’s commitment to paying the arrears and implementing the new minimum wage as “a breath of fresh air for workers in Benue state”.
He also said it “demonstrates his (Alia) administration’s focus on improving workers’ welfare and addressing the state’s economic challenges”.
Kalu noted that the governor remains committed to serving the common man, adding this decision is a step in the right direction.
The governor’s announcement followed earlier claims that the state was planning to pay a minimum wage of N40,000.
