The Imo State government has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants.
This follows a meeting between Governor Hope Uzodimma and labour leaders at the Government House in Owerri on Tuesday night.
The new pay structure moves the state’s minimum wage from N76,000 to N104,000, while salaries of doctors have risen from N215,000 to N503,000.
Lecturers in tertiary institutions will now earn N222,000 instead of N119,000.
The decision places Imo among the states offering the highest pay to workers in Nigeria.
Governor Uzodimma explained that the adjustment was made possible by better financial management in the state.
He pointed out that internally generated revenue had grown from N400 million to over N3 billion monthly, while debt dropped from N280 billion in 2020 to less than N100 billion.
He added that the rise in federal allocations after the removal of fuel subsidy also contributed to the increase, noting that the goal is to ensure the people enjoy the benefits.
The governor also announced that the state will begin paying outstanding gratuities owed to pensioners, with the first phase of the N16 billion arrears set to commence on August 27.
Labour leaders in the state welcomed the move and said it would ease the struggles of workers, while assuring that the workforce will respond with more dedication and improved service.
