Please Pay Us Full N70,000 Minimum Wage, Abia Workers Beg Otti

BY Khadijat
May 2, 2025
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Civil servants in Abia State have appealed to Governor Alex Otti to fully implement the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage in line with the federal government’s directive aimed at addressing the rising cost of living in the country.

The call was made by various labor unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), who argued that while the government has begun paying the new minimum wage to entry-level workers, there remains a significant gap in salary adjustments for higher-grade levels.

In October 2024, Governor Otti announced that the state would begin payment of the N70,000 minimum wage, starting with workers on Grade Level 1, Step 1. The move was in response to a nationwide agreement between the federal government and labor unions following prolonged negotiations and nationwide strikes earlier in the year.

Despite the initial implementation, union leaders expressed dissatisfaction, noting that only the lowest-paid workers were benefiting from the new wage. They criticized the absence of “consequential adjustments” — incremental increases across higher salary grades — which they argue was necessary to maintain fairness and motivation among civil servants.

Following continued engagement with the labor unions, the state government entered into negotiations to resolve the impasse. In February 2025, both parties reached an agreement on a new salary structure that includes adjustments for all grade levels, from GL1 to GL17.

The Head of Service was directed to issue a circular ensuring that the new structure is implemented without delay.

Workers have since commended Governor Otti for showing willingness to address their concerns but have urged the administration to speed up the full rollout of the adjusted wage structure to avoid further discontent.

The labor unions have vowed to continue monitoring the implementation process and ensure that the promises made by the state government are fully honored.