The Head of Service for Akwa Ibom State, Elder Effiong Essien, has announced that the state government will honor the recently agreed-upon new minimum wage set by the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress.
Essien made this declaration on Wednesday during a press briefing in celebration of the 2024 Public Service Week, themed “Stay Forward Looking… Make a Difference”.
This statement comes amidst the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s acknowledgment that a new minimum wage is necessary, but they have expressed concerns about the sustainability of the proposed N60,000 wage.
“We were one of the first states to implement the minimum wage in 2019, exceeding the national agreement. We will disclose our payment plans once the new minimum wage is officially announced, “Essien stated.
The Head of Service, recognizing that Public Service Week has not been commemorated in the state for the past decade, expressed gratitude to Governor Umo Eno for allowing workers to participate in this year’s celebrations alongside their international counterparts.
Essien explained, “June 23 is globally recognized as the United Nations Public Service Day, a day dedicated to honoring the contributions of public service workers to societal development. Governor Umo Eno’s decision to celebrate the 2024 Public Service Week reflects his commitment to motivating the Akwa Ibom Workforce for enhanced productivity, a tradition that has been neglected for 10 years in the state.”
Encouraging workers to engage in the weeklong events, Essien urged them to show appreciation to the Governor for his support. He highlighted the Governor’s accomplishments, including the prompt allocation of over N18 billion for pension, gratuity, and leave grant settlements, regular payment of workers’ entitlements, the introduction of a three-month wage award, the ‘Enomber’ 13th-month salary, as well as promotions and service examinations.
The Public Service Week Celebration in Akwa Ibom State began on Tuesday, June 18 with a novelty football match, and a Public Lecture to discuss the theme is scheduled for Thursday, June 20 at 9:00 am at the Civil Service Auditorium, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo.
Roadwork (fitness walk) is planned for Saturday, June 22 at 7:00 am at Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, while a Thanksgiving Service featuring Governor Umo Eno as the Special Guest of Honour is set for Sunday, June 23 at the International Worship Centre, Uyo.
