Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has inaugurated a Committee tasked with implementing the new National Minimum Wage for civil and public servants in the state. During the inauguration, which took place on Thursday at the Government House in Enugu, the governor directed the Committee to submit its report within a maximum of one month.
The Committee is chaired by the Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu, with Sandra George, a representative from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, serving as Secretary. Other members include the Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Nathaniel Uramah; the Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Pharm Chika Ugwuoke; and the state’s Accountant-General, Mr. Anthony Okenwa.
On the labor side, the Committee includes Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Enugu State chapter; Comrade Benedict Asogwa, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Enugu State chapter; Comrade Ezekiel Omeh, Chairman of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council; and Comrade Udaya Ani, Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees, Enugu State chapter.
Governor Mbah emphasized his dedication to workers’ welfare, urging the Committee to engage with relevant stakeholders, including Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, to ensure the workers take ownership of the final report.
“We have set very ambitious targets for ourselves, and we know that the only thing between us and achieving these targets will be the human resources because as great as our visions and dreams might be, it would be impossible to achieve anything if we do not have a motivated workforce,” Mbah stated.
He highlighted that the Committee’s work is crucial for the quick implementation of the new minimum wage and requested a comprehensive review of the salary structure for all categories and cadres of workers at both state and local government levels.
In response, Committee Chairman Kenneth Ugwu assured the governor that the Committee would not only meet the deadline but also surpass expectations in terms of quality and timeliness of the report.
“We are aware of your commitment to the welfare and motivation of the great workers of Enugu State. All our recommendations are going to be aligned with your vision for a highly motivated and productive public service,” Ugwu said.
Comrade Benedict Asogwa, Chairman of TUC, also expressed confidence in Governor Mbah’s commitment, noting that the governor had been proactive in addressing workers’ welfare, including the recent payment of wage awards and the fulfillment of promises to health professionals in the state.
“We have confidence in him. We feel happy that in no distant time, our financial situation as Enugu workers will be improved,” Asogwa added.
