Abia news on minimum wage

Here are some recent news articles and updates on the minimum wage in Abia State, Nigeria:

Latest Update:

• The Abia State Government has approved a new minimum wage of N30,000 per month for its workers, effective from January 2020. (Source: Vanguard News, January 2020)

Previous Updates:

• In October 2019, the Abia State Government announced that it would pay its workers a new minimum wage of N25,000 per month, pending the passage of the National Minimum Wage Bill by the National Assembly. (Source: The Nation, October 2019)
• In August 2019, the Abia State Government said it would not pay its workers the new minimum wage of N30,000 per month, citing financial constraints. (Source: Punch News, August 2019)

Background:

• The Abia State Government has been implementing a minimum wage of N18,000 per month for its workers since 2011.
• In 2019, the Federal Government of Nigeria increased the national minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000 per month, but many states, including Abia, have been slow to implement the new wage.
• The Abia State Government has been facing financial challenges, including a significant decline in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected its ability to pay its workers a higher minimum wage.

Reactions:

• The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been pushing for the implementation of the new minimum wage in Abia State, and has threatened to embark on industrial action if the government fails to comply.
• The Abia State Government has been accused of not doing enough to improve the welfare of its workers, and the new minimum wage is seen as a step in the right direction.

I hope this information is helpful!