Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved a new minimum wage of ₦104,000 for state civil servants, up from ₦76,000.
The announcement was made during a meeting with leaders of various labour unions on Tuesday night at the Government House in Owerri.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the revised wage structure also includes significant increases for other sectors. Doctors’ minimum wage has been raised from ₦215,000 to ₦503,000, while lecturers in tertiary institutions will now earn a minimum of ₦222,000, up from ₦119,000.
Uzodimma said the decision reflects his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare despite numerous challenges since 2020, including insecurity, COVID-19, and economic reforms such as subsidy removal.
“When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows,” Uzodimma stated. “This is our way of investing in Imo people.”
The governor revealed that Imo’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has increased from ₦400 million to over ₦3 billion monthly, while federal allocations have grown from ₦7 billion to ₦14 billion. He added that the state’s debt profile dropped from ₦280 billion in 2020 to less than ₦100 billion.
Uzodimma also announced that the government would begin payment of the last batch of gratuity mounting to ₦16 billion to pensioners on August 27. He highlighted reforms in healthcare, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship, including the state’s participation in the Federal Government’s plan to establish 1,000 businesses in every INEC ward.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Imo Chairman, Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, described the wage increase as a “victory for the entire workforce,” while the Trade Union Congress (TUC) chairman, Uchenna Ibe, praised the governor for his “strong political will.”
