TUC tackles NLC, says Enugu has implemented N30k minimum wage since 2020

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Enugu says the state government has been paying the N30,000 minimum wage since 2020.

Chris Onyeka, assistant general secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), had reportedly listed Enugu among the states yet to implement the N30,000 minimum wage.

Onyeka listed Abia, Enugu, Bayelsa, Delta, Nasarawa, Gombe, Adamawa, Niger, Sokoto, Imo, Anambra, Taraba, Benue, and Zamfara as states that are yet to implement the N30 minimum wage in defiance of the Minimum Wage Act, 2019.

However, in a reaction, Ben Asogwa, chairman of TUC in Enugu, said the NLC chieftain must have been misquoted the payment of the minimum wage in the state.

“The payment of the N30,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustment started in February 2020 for all the state workers, while the local government workers and primary school teachers were paid with 25% consequential adjustment,” Asogwa said.

“However, Governor Peter Mbah, on assumption of office, approved the full implementation for local government workers and primary school teachers.

“Besides that, the Peter Mbah Administration has also been paying monthly wage awards of N10,000 to local government workers and primary school teachers and N25,000 to all categories of state workers from December 2023 till date to cushion the current economic hardship pending the conclusion of the negotiation of a new minimum wage.

“The governor recently approved the 100% consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS) for nurses and midwives and the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals in the state.

“So, nobody is talking about the N30,000 minimum wage in Enugu again. We are actually waiting for the conclusion of the negotiation of a new minimum wage, which our governor has already assured us he will key into once the negotiation ends at the federal level.

“In fact, Governor Mbah is conveniently disposed to the welfare of workers.”