By Atoyebi Nike
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants in the state, making Imo one of the highest-paying states in Nigeria.
The announcement came Tuesday night during a meeting with labour union leaders at the Government House, Owerri. The wage review raises the previous minimum of N76,000 to N104,000, while doctors’ salaries climbed from N215,000 to N503,000 and lecturers’ pay rose from N119,000 to N222,000.
Uzodimma said the decision reflects his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare despite years of challenges, including insecurity, COVID-19, and subsidy removal.
“When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows. This is our way of investing in Imo people,” he said.
The governor highlighted improvements in the state’s finances, noting that Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has risen from N400 million to N3 billion monthly, while federal allocations now average N14 billion compared to N5–7 billion in 2020. He also revealed that the state’s debt profile had reduced from over N280 billion to less than N100 billion.
Uzodimma announced that on August 27, the state will begin payment of the last tranche of N16 billion in gratuities owed to pensioners. He also pointed to reforms in the health sector and participation in federal initiatives to establish 1,000 businesses in every INEC ward.
In response, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, hailed the new wage as “a victory for the entire workforce,” adding:
“Today, no worker in Imo will say the governor has not been fair to us.”
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) chairman, Uchenna Ibe, also commended Uzodimma’s “political will” and assured that workers would repay the gesture with efficient service.
