Enugu Government Implements N80,000 Minimum Wage in November, Labour Leaders Confirm

• Labour leaders in Enugu confirm the implementation of the new minimum wage, stating it was paid for the first time in November 2024
• They noted discrepancies in the N80,000 minimum wage payment and expressed confidence that Governor Peter Mbah will address these issues

Labour leaders in Enugu State have confirmed the implementation of the new minimum wage, stating that it was paid for the first time in November 2024.

This clarification counters reports suggesting that it had not yet been implemented.

In a joint statement released yesterday, Fabian Nwigbo, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Enugu State, Ben Asogwa of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Ezekiel Omeh, Chairman of the state’s Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, affirmed the development.

The statement read in part: “We acknowledge that the Enugu State government paid the N80,000 minimum wage approved by the governor in the November 2024 salary.

However, the payment did not fully reflect the consequential adjustments in implementing a minimum wage.”

The labour leaders noted that they had communicated the observed discrepancies to Governor Peter Mbah. Expressing confidence in his commitment to workers’ welfare, they stated, “We strongly believe that the governor, in his usual magnanimity, will address these issues subsequently.”

They further praised the governor for consistently prioritizing workers’ well-being. The statement highlighted that the governor had previously approved a wage award of N25,000, paid from December 2023 to October 2024, before approving and implementing the new minimum wage.

Labour leaders urged workers to remain optimistic, expressing faith in the administration’s resolve to resolve any lingering concerns about the minimum wage adjustments.