On Thursday, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State inaugurated a committee to oversee the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage within the state. The committee is led by the Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu, with Sandra George, a representative from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, serving as Secretary.
Governor Mbah tasked the committee with delivering its report within one month.
Key members of the committee include the Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Nathaniel Uramah; the Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Chika Ugwuoke; and the Accountant-General of the state, Mr. Anthony Okenwa.
The labor sector is represented by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Enugu State chapter, Fabian Nwigbo, and the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) state chapter, Benedict Asogwa.
Governor Mbah urged the committee to engage in extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, to ensure that the final report reflects the interests of the workers. He emphasized his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
“We have set very ambitious targets for ourselves, and we recognize that the key to achieving these goals lies in our human resources. No matter how grand our visions may be, they are unattainable without a motivated workforce.
“From the outset, we prioritized workers’ welfare, which is why we introduced wage awards even before discussions on the new minimum wage began. We are committed to fully transitioning to the new minimum wage.
“This committee’s role in implementing the new national minimum wage is crucial, and we have carefully selected its members. We trust that you will carry out your duties effectively,” Governor Mbah stated.
