The labour unions expressed their commitment to supporting the verification exercise’s swift completion, emphasising its importance in facilitating the timely rollout of the new minimum wage in January 2025.
By Patrick Odey, Punch Newspaper
The organised labour in Akwa Ibom State has reversed its earlier stance rejecting the state government’s proposal to pay a 13th-month salary in lieu of implementing the new minimum wage in December.
The decision was reached during an emergency, enlarged state executive congress meeting held in Uyo on Saturday.
Previously, the state’s labour movement had opposed Governor Umo Eno’s plan to pay workers their December salaries at the old rate alongside a 13th-month bonus. The governor had promised that the new minimum wage would only be implemented after completing an ongoing staff verification exercise.
However, in a communiqué signed by Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Sunny James, and Trade Union Congress Chairman, Dominic Abang, the unions resolved to accept the government’s proposal.
The communiqué commended the verification exercise, noting its potential benefits for both the state government and the labour movement, including wage bill reduction and the creation of employment opportunities.
The communiqué stated: “The meeting directed the organised labour to work expeditiously with the government to compress the days allocated for the staff verification exercise, including Saturdays, so the process can be concluded by the first week of January 2025.
“The labour movement, after a critical analysis of the staff verification exercise, recognises that it will be beneficial to both the state government and the labour movement, through reduced wage bills and increased employment opportunities.
“We, therefore, commend and encourage the governor to ensure the exercise is concluded logically, with a view to implementing the new minimum wage immediately in January 2025.
“In light of the above, the meeting resolved to accept the December 2024 salary at the old rate, along with the 13th-month bonus, as a temporary measure to cushion the impact of the non-payment of December salaries at the new rate, as earlier agreed and documented by the implementation committee.”
The labour unions expressed their commitment to supporting the verification exercise’s swift completion, emphasising its importance in facilitating the timely rollout of the new minimum wage in January 2025.