Another Nigerian governor announces new minimum wage
Mr Otu said his new minimum wage of N40,000 aligns with the realities of the time rather than sentiments.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross Rivers State has announced N40,000 as the new minimum wage for civil servants in the state.
He made the announcement on Wednesday at U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, where he joined the 2024 Workers Day Celebration, the spokesperson to the governor, Nsa Gill said in a statement.
According to the statement, Mr Otu said the new minimum wage aligns with “the realities of the time rather than sentiments”.
“Owing to the peculiarity of Cross River State regarding its lean finances occasioned by low Statutory Federal Allocation and aggravated by the unfavourable State GDP to Debt servicing ratio, the new wage implementation is in line with the realities of the time rather than sentiments.”
The governor appealed to the workers to exercise patience regarding the backlog of gratuities dating back to 2014.
“Government is presently on the verge of concluding necessary arrangements for the staggered payment of outstanding gratuity to its retired workers.
“Accordingly, whatever action aimed at alleviating the suffering of the workers is readily embraced by me. One of such measures is the payment of a living wage to the workforce.