May 01, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Akwa Ibom State Chapter, has demanded an upward review of the current minimum wage of N80,000, saying it has become meaningless, owing to the high inflation rate in the state and the country at large.
The state chairman of NLC, Comrade Sunny James, aired the demands of the state workers on Thursday, in Uyo, during the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration at the Uyo Township Stadium.
According to him, the minimum wage introduced last year can no longer sustain the families of the state workers, hence the call for a review.
Comrade James, however, praised the state Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for giving particular attention to workers in the state.
He mentioned the state workers’ health, housing, creation of a bulk purchase agency, and even food, but stressed the need for an upward review of the minimum wage as the N80,000 becomes inadequate.
“Your Excellency, if you have given us health, housing, a bulk purchase agency and, therefore, distributed food, what again do we need to ask from you? Your Excellency, I ask that you increase the minimum wage again.
“Inflation has affected the minimum wage, and we shall be willing to negotiate the new one with you at your earliest convenience as you invite us”, James stated.
He commended the governor for refunding the 7.5 contributory pension scheme owed to workers, explaining that in 2007, in Akwa Ibom State, there were deductions from workers’ salaries called the pension contributory scheme, which the House of Assembly considered unnecessary as it lacked legislative backing. “The House, therefore, asked that the money be refunded to workers, and the governor in his first year in office ensured that refund.”
Addressing the workers, Governor Umo Eno, celebrated them for the collaboration he had received from the organised labour in the state, recalling that, in the course, of his electioneering in 2023, he had assured the organised labour that if elected, his government would deepen its collaboration and continue to put the welfare of workers at the centre of his engagement.
The governor, who was represented at the event by his Deputy, Dr Akon Eyakenyi, thanked NLC for confirming and attesting to what his administration has done since its inception in 2023.
“We have excelled well and remained poised to do more to the extent of the resources available in addressing the needs of our workers.
“Thank God, today the NLC chairman is the man who has awarded the score, and we have A+, that is 80 and above”, the governor said.
He noted that the theme of this year’s rally, “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship”, is thought-provoking.
“Permit me to say that here in Akwa Ibom State, because of the collaboration we have enjoyed with the organised labour, we have prioritised the welfare of the workers, the conscious and intentional approach we had deployed in dealing with the concerns of our public sector workers, the civic space is continuously being reclaimed.
“Though the general economic outlook is tough and workers have experienced a little hardship, there is, however, a silver lining in the sky.
“Remain hopeful that if we stay, soon the horizon will be steadier and more predictable.
“Since we came on board almost two years ago, as the various speakers have emphasised, we have prioritised the welfare of our workers, and this has met with the recent awards given to me by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), 2024. I want to express again my appreciation to the congress for the recognition, and today the state council of the TUC have also honoured me with an award and to this I want to say I am grateful. Thank you.
“We have, as I had promised, paid over N60 billion, part of the N98bn backlog we inherited since 2012 has been paid. This is a huge achievement, which we have recorded for nearly two years.
“We raised the minimum wage to N80,000, one of the highest in the nation and have since commenced the payment of this new salary scale. The 13-month salary, generally popularly known as a number, remains in effect. One hundred and fifty units of two-bedroom flats were donated to workers, as acknowledged by your chairman,” Eno recounted.
The Governor, however, announced the approval of the creation of a separate department of Occupational Safety, as well as the recruitment of 100 occupational safety officers and to employment of 600 medical personnel in the state ministry of Health.
