- Governor Peter Mbah pledges to continue disbursing wage awards to state workers until the committee on the new minimum wage concludes
- He assures prioritization of workers’ welfare and highlights efforts to address outstanding pension and gratuity arrears for retired civil servants
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has pledged to continue disbursing wage awards to state workers until the committee on the new minimum wage completes its deliberations.
This commitment was made during a Town Hall meeting with the people of Enugu held at the Old Government House on Saturday.
Last December, Governor Mbah initiated payments ranging from N10,000 to N25,000 as part of the wage awards to state employees, aiming to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
Representatives from various sectors, including civil society organizations, women, students, youth, business owners, traders, and transport unions, attended the town hall meeting.
Governor Mbah assured that his administration would prioritize the welfare of workers and strive to foster an environment conducive to their growth.
“We will continue to distribute wage awards until the conclusion of negotiations on the new minimum wage,” he affirmed.
Governor Mbah highlighted his administration’s efforts to address outstanding pension and gratuity arrears for retired civil servants, emphasizing prompt action to resolve these issues.
“We are currently focused on clearing arrears owed to primary school teachers and Local Government workers,” he stated.
Governor Mbah underscored its pivotal role in combating poverty in education, announcing plans to establish SMART Schools across all 260 wards by September 2025.
“These SMART Schools will introduce modern teaching methods, incorporating technology such as tablets for students and smart boards for teachers. Our curriculum will also include subjects like artificial intelligence and robotics,” he explained.
The governor revealed initiatives to enhance healthcare infrastructure, including constructing level two Primary Health Centres across all wards to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates.
“We have already awarded contracts for 30 health centres and plan to award an additional 100,” he disclosed.
Governor Mbah addressed the electricity issue, outlining efforts to generate and distribute power to households and businesses in the state.
“With electricity being vital for economic growth, we established the Enugu State Electricity Commission to oversee its production and distribution. This move aims to promote competition and ensure accessibility to electricity,” he elaborated.
Furthermore, the governor pledged to implement programs to support students and sustain the state’s Scholarship Board.