Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has unveiled a new minimum wage of N40,000 for state civil servants. The announcement was made at the 2024 Workers Day Celebration held at U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, as stated by the governor’s spokesperson, Nsa Gill.
According to Gill’s statement, Governor Otu emphasized that the increased wage is based on “the realities of the time rather than sentiments.”
“Despite the financial challenges faced by Cross River State due to low federal allocations and a high debt servicing ratio, the new wage is implemented to reflect the current economic situation,” the statement explained.
Governor Otu urged workers to remain patient regarding unpaid gratuities dating back to 2014. He assured that the government is finalizing arrangements for a staggered payment plan to address this issue.
“The government is committed to alleviating the suffering of its workers and providing a living wage,” Otu said. “I want to assure the workforce that the Cross River State government is eager to bring joy to their faces, in keeping with my administration’s ‘season of sweetness.'”
With this announcement, Governor Otu becomes the second governor in the South-South region to unilaterally announce a new minimum wage during ongoing negotiations between the federal government and labor unions. CONTINUE READING
Leave a Reply