Ebonyi State Government and the organised labour in the state on Monday night, December 23, 2019, signed an agreement on the new minimum wage. They agreed that the wage increase will commence from next month, January 2020.

This followed months of negotiations between the Joint Negotiating Council and the State Government on the new minimum wage, especially on the consequently increment template to be used.

With the signing of the agreement at the Executive Council Chambers, the State Government is now poised to begin implementation from January.

Commenting on the agreement, Commissioner for Finance in the state, Prof Ogbonnaya Chukwu, said that both sides agreed that civil servants from grade level one to six will get a consequential increment of 59 percent; those on grade level seven 39 percent increment while those on grade level 8 will get 16.5 percent increase. He added that workers from grade level 9 to 14 are to get upward salary adjustment of 10 percent while those on level 15 to 17 will get 80 percent adjustment.

Prof. Chukwu disclosed that the State Government and labour agreed that there will not be any arrears paid to the workers as the state does not have the financial ability to do so.

Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, Patrick Onyekwe, in his remarks noted that the agreement was without any imposition.

The State Governor, Engr. David Umahi, thanked labour for the peaceful way the issue was resolved. He reiterated the commitment of his administration to partner with labour to move the state forward.

The governor, however, urged the organised labour to join hands with government to shore up the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state so as to be able to meet the responsibilities to the workers.

The state Head of Service, Commissioner for Local Government and 13 Local Government Chairmen signed for government while the Chairman and Secretary of the Joint Negotiating Council signed on behalf of the organised labour in the state.

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