By Joy Yesufu
The Ebonyi State Government has approved an upward review of the minimum wage for civil servants from N70,000 to N90,000, with immediate effect.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebe, announced the decision on Thursday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting.
According to Omebe, the increment reflects the government’s commitment to workers’ welfare and is not politically motivated.
“We want to state categorically that this is not a political statement. This administration does not toy with workers’ welfare.
“The government has offset pension and gratuities of state retirees from the creation of the state in 1996 to date.
“The verification process for retirees at the local government level is ongoing and, once completed, payments will be made,” he said.
He added that if the government could commit to clearing decades of pension liabilities, it would not hesitate to back the wage increase with action.
The commissioner further disclosed that the EXCO also approved the implementation of the eight-year tenure policy for directors and permanent secretaries, mandating the immediate retirement of those who had served beyond the period.
Omebe described Governor Francis Nwifuru as “a leader committed to capacity building, infrastructure development, and governance driven by the people’s charter of needs.”
