Benue Govt, Organized Labour Leaders Agree On Minimum Wage

Benue State government have agreed to commence the implementation of the ₦30,000 National Minimum Wage for civil servants on levels one to six.

Ekohotblog gathered that the development was made known by the Scretary to the State Government (SSG) Prof. Anthony Ijohor (SAN), who briefed reporters on Wednesday at the end of a meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom.

He said it was agreed that implementation for civil servants on grade levels one to six should start immediately.

Also, he said implementation for civil servants on grade level seven and above would be put on hold and discussions on same would resume after detailed cleaning of the payroll, which is ongoing.

The state Chairman, Joint Negotiations Councils 1, 2 and 3, Comrade Ojema Ojotu, said the union leaders agreed with the government based on current realities, including economic recession, which had resulted in a drop in revenue accruals from the Federation Account and the ongoing cleaning up of the payroll.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: FG Slashes Data Price By 50 Percent

He said labour unions were following the cleaning exercise and were optimistic it would yield positive results, stressing that it was worrisome for the wage bill to keep increasing when civil servants had retired, with many deaths recorded.

Ojotu, said the union leaders who are also part of the payroll cleaning exercise, according to the SSG, have faith in the interim agreement with the government.

He added that they would not hesitate to put forward a reminder at the appropriate time.