By Ikeugonna Eleke
Anambra State Government will pay the new minimum wage, but it will be after it meets with members of organized labour in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C Don Adinuba, who disclosed this on behalf of the government, said the state needed to first hold a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NUC; and Trade Union Congress, TUC; as well as with other stakeholders, before deciding on the commencement date. This, Adinuba explained, was to avoid taking a unilateral decision which the state government will take and impose on everyone,’ reports Ikeugonna Eleke.
The deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Anambra State governor, Mr Emeka Ozumba also said the minimum wage was captured in the 2020 budget, an indication, he said, that the Anambra State Government had shown enough commitment to pay.
‘The governor made this clear during the presentation of the 2020 budget proposal to the House of Assembly. If you look at the proposal, you will see Personnel cost of N1.9 Billion. Once the law is passed, we will commence payment,’ Ozumba stated.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Jerry Nnubia, in his reaction, added that once the state labour union got a circular from its national body, it would begin to engage the state government on payment.
