By Onilede Titi Faith
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants in the state.
The governor announced the increase on Tuesday night during a meeting with labour union leaders at the Government House, Owerri.
The new wage represents a jump from N76,000 to N104,000.
Other salary categories were also reviewed upward: doctors’ pay rose from N215,000 to N503,000, while lecturers in tertiary institutions will now earn between N119,000 and N222,000.
Uzodimma noted that Imo workers had endured multiple challenges during his administration, ranging from insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic to economic hardship triggered by reforms and the removal of fuel subsidy.
He stressed that improved welfare for workers was central to his government’s agenda.
“When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows. This is our way of investing in Imo people.
“Government believes in stimulating economic activities, carrying bureaucrats along, and ensuring that workers’ welfare is highly respected,” he said.
The governor revealed that Imo’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), had increased from N400 million in 2020 to over N3 billion monthly, while federal allocations had grown from N5-7 billion to N14 billion.
He also disclosed that the state’s debt profile had dropped from over N280 billion in 2020 to less than N100 billion.
Uzodimma added that when he assumed office in 2020, critical infrastructure across sectors had collapsed.
He said his administration has since invested heavily in road rehabilitation, rebuilding infrastructure, and strengthening security.
On subsidy removal, he acknowledged its economic advantages but admitted it had worsened the cost of living for Nigerians.
