Umahi Directs Payment Of New Minimum Wage From January 10

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Friday directed that civil servants in the state be paid their January salary from January 10.

The governor, in a statement, said new minimum wage table agreed upon between the Organised Labour in the state and his administration will be used in the payment.

The directive is an improvement on the previous policy of paying workers their salary from the 15th of every month.

In the statement by the Governor’s Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, the Governor said the early payment is to give workers a smooth start as they return to work from the holidays.

According to Nwaze, the governor directed that the state Accountant General and all the Local government Chairmen should seek for overdraft facilities from banks to enable them pay the new wages on time.

The statement reads: “In compliance with the Governor’s approval to commence the payment of new minimum wage to Civil Servants effective from January 1, 2020 in Ebonyi State and his commitment and love for the good people of Ebonyi State which translate to his continued effort in ensuring that dividends of democracy cut across all and sundry, the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Chief Engr. David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE, has graciously directed the State Accountant General and all the LGAs Chairmen in the state to seek for overdraft and ensure the payment of the new Minimum Wage to Civil Servants by 10th January, 2020”.

“The above is to give smooth start to Ebonyi workers who must have made expenses during the yuletide period”.

Ebonyi State government and the Organised Labour in the state had in December 2019 signed an agreement on the new minimum wage.

The agreement followed months of negotiations between the Joint Negotiating Council and the State Government on the new minimum wage especially on consequently increment table to be used.

At the signing, the governor promised to begin implementation by January 1, 2020.

By the agreement reached, Civil Servants from grade level one to six will get a consequential increment of 59 percent.

Civil servants on grade level seven will get 39 percent increment while those on grade level 8 will get 16.5 percent

Workers from grade level 9 to 14 are to get upward salary adjustment of 10 percent while those on level 15 to 17 will get 8 percent adjustment.