Governor Mbah Launches Minimum Wage Implementation Committee, Sets One-Month Deadline

 Governor Mbah Launches Minimum Wage Implementation Committee, Sets One-Month Deadline

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially inaugurated a Committee tasked with implementing the new national minimum wage for civil and public servants in the state. The Committee, which was inaugurated on Thursday at the Government House in Enugu, has been given a one-month deadline to submit its report.

The Committee is chaired by the Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu, with Sandra George, representing the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, serving as Secretary. Other key 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.

Representatives from the labor sector include the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Enugu State chapter, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo; the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Benedict Asogwa; the Chairman of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Ezekiel Omeh; and the Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Udaya Ani.

In his address during the inauguration, Governor Mbah underscored his dedication to the welfare of workers and urged the Committee to engage extensively with relevant stakeholders, particularly within the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. He emphasized the importance of a motivated workforce in achieving the state’s ambitious goals.

“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 accomplish anything if we do not have a motivated workforce,” Mbah stated.

He highlighted that even before discussions on the new minimum wage commenced, his administration had already introduced wage awards and committed to transitioning to the new wage structure. The governor expressed confidence in the Committee’s ability to deliver a comprehensive review of the salary structure across all categories and cadres of workers at both state and local government levels, using the existing state salary chart as a guide.

“We expect a detailed report to be submitted within a month. We want to proceed with the implementation of the new national minimum wage as swiftly as possible,” he added.

In response, the Committee Chairman, Kenneth Ugwu, assured the governor that the Committee