Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved a new minimum wage of ₦104,000 for civil servants, raising it from the previous ₦76,000.
The announcement was made on Tuesday evening during a meeting with labour union leaders at the Government House in Owerri.
The governor said the upward review was part of efforts to cushion the impact of current economic challenges on workers and stimulate growth across the state.
In addition to the general wage increase, doctors’ salaries will now start at ₦503,000, up from ₦215,000, while lecturers in tertiary institutions will earn a minimum of ₦222,000, up from ₦119,000.
Uzodimma acknowledged the hardships citizens have endured since he assumed office in 2020, citing insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, subsidy removal, and other economic reforms.
“No government can thrive without a cordial and productive relationship with organised labour,” he said.
“When workers are paid well, productivity improves, families thrive, and the local economy benefits. This wage increase is an investment in our people.”
He also revealed that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has grown from ₦400 million to over ₦3 billion monthly since 2020, while federal allocations have risen from between ₦5–₦7 billion to ₦14 billion monthly. Similarly, the state’s debt profile, which stood at over ₦280 billion in 2020, has reportedly dropped to below ₦100 billion.
According to the governor, his administration has prioritised infrastructure, particularly roads and public safety, while implementing health reforms, including the launch of a state health insurance scheme.
He added that the removal of fuel subsidy, though painful, was beginning to yield long-term benefits. “It is now our responsibility to ensure those dividends trickle down to the ordinary citizens,” he noted.
The governor further announced that, from 27 August, the state government would begin paying the final tranche of ₦16 billion in gratuities owed to pensioners.
He reaffirmed Imo’s participation in the Federal Government initiative to establish 1,000 small businesses in every active INEC ward across the country.
In response, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, hailed the wage increase as a “landmark victory” for workers.
“Governor Uzodimma has not only rescued us from economic hardship but has made Imo one of the states with the highest minimum wage,” he said.
The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Uchenna Ibe, also commended the governor for his “strong political will” in implementing the new wage structure and other progressive policies.
