…NLC/TUC Resolve to Compress Verification Days

By Egufe Yafuborghi & Chioma Onuegbu

UYO – Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has reiterated that his administration will commence payment of the new minimum wage of ₦80,000 to civil servants only after completing the ongoing staff verification exercise in the state.

Speaking during the 2024 Christmas Carols Festival on Friday night at the Amphitheater, Unity Park, Udoma Avenue, Uyo, Governor Eno emphasized the need to ascertain the exact number of state employees before implementing the new wage.

While acknowledging an agreement with labor unions to begin payment in December, he stressed the importance of due process. He reassured workers of his commitment to paying the December salary and the 13th-month bonus (Eno-Mber) at the old rate, alongside distributing bags of rice to the state’s 2,272 gazetted villages as part of the Christmas celebrations.

“We had a meeting with labor, and at that tense meeting, agreements were made. They wanted the new minimum wage to start in November, and I said that’s fine, but we need to finish verification,” Eno said. “If labor gives me that tonight, we start payment tomorrow. I must know the number of workers in the state’s civil service. You must understand that we must do the right thing.”

In response, the organized labor unions in the state—comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC)—held an emergency meeting and resolved to extend the verification exercise to include Saturdays, aiming to complete it by the first week of January 2025.

In a communique issued on Saturday, December 14, 2024, after an enlarged meeting of the State Executive Councils (SEC) of the NLC and TUC, the unions expressed their willingness to cooperate with the government to expedite the process. The communique, signed by NLC Chairperson Comrade Sunny James and TUC Chairperson Comrade Dominic Abang, stated:

“After extensive deliberations, the following resolutions were reached:

The organized labor appreciates His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, for approving the ₦80,000 minimum wage for workers in Akwa Ibom State, effective November 1, 2024.

The labor unions agreed to compress the verification exercise schedule to include Saturdays, ensuring its conclusion in the first week of January 2025.

Labor recognizes the mutual benefits of the verification exercise, including wage bill reduction for the government and employment opportunities for labor. We encourage His Excellency to see the exercise through to its logical conclusion and implement the new minimum wage in January 2025.

The meeting expressed reservations about public announcements on labor-related issues without prior consultation with labor leaders.

The unions agreed to accept the December 2024 salary at the old rate, alongside the 13th-month bonus, to cushion the impact of non-payment of December wages at the new rate.”

During the Christmas Carols Festival, themed “Peace and Holiness with All Men,” Governor Eno also launched the ARISE Home Farmers Scheme (AHFS). Under the initiative, 50 home farmers will receive ₦500,000 each to support their agricultural ventures, promoting household farming and food security across the state.