By Ruth Oginyi,
Ebonyi State government and the Organised Labour in the state on Monday night signed an agreement on the new minimum wage table to be used to pay workers salary.
Governor David Umahi had last week Friday during the signing of the 2020 budget announce that payment of the new minimum wage will start on January 1st, 2020 hence the signing of the agreement by the Labour union and state government.
Consequently , workers on grade level 7 will get 39 percent salary increment while those on grade level 8 will get 16.5 percent, from grade level 9 to 14 civil servants, are to get upward salary adjustment of 10 percent while those on level 15 to 17 will get 8 percent adjustment.
Correspondent Reports that 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 adopted for payment.
Commissioner for Finance in the state, Prof Ogbonnaya Chukwu, in a remark, said both sides agreed that Civil Servants from grade level 1 to 6 will get a consequential increment of 59 percent.
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He explained that the state government and labour agreed that their will not be any arrears paid to the workers as the state does not have the financial capacity for payment of arrears.
Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council (Labour’s Side), Patrick Ok Onyekwe in his submission, noted that the table was accepted by Labour and state government without any imposition.
The state Governor, David Umahi reiterated the commitment of his administration to partner Labour to move the state forward.
The Governor, however, urged the Organised Labour to join hands with government to shore up the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state so as to be able to meet the responsibilities to the workers.
The state Head of Service, Commissioner for Local Government and 13 Local Government Chairmen signed for goverment while the Chairman and Secretary of the Joint Negotiating Council signed on behalf of the Organised Labour in the state.
