Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants.

The governor made the announcement during a meeting with labour union leaders on Tuesday night at the Government House, Owerri.

The minimum wage was raised from N76,000 to N104,000. Doctors’ salaries were also reviewed upward from N215,000 to N503,000, while lecturers in tertiary institutions had theirs increased from N119,000 to N222,000, among others.

Uzodimma noted that workers had endured several challenges since his administration began, including insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic difficulties from reform policies, and disputes over wages and subsidy removal.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining a cordial relationship with organized labour, stating:
“When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows. This is our way of investing in Imo people.”

The governor disclosed that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has risen from N400 million to over N3 billion monthly. He also highlighted that federal allocations to the state have grown from about N5–7 billion in 2020 to N14 billion, while the state’s debt profile dropped from over N280 billion to less than N100 billion.

Uzodimma recalled that upon assuming office in 2020, critical infrastructure had collapsed across sectors. He said significant resources had since been invested in rebuilding roads and addressing insecurity.

On the removal of fuel subsidy, the governor acknowledged the hardship it brought but said it has also begun yielding benefits. He pledged to ensure that the gains of the policy reach ordinary citizens.

The governor further announced that starting August 27, his administration would begin paying the last tranche of N16 billion in gratuities owed to pensioners.

He also mentioned reforms in the health sector, including the introduction of health insurance schemes and equipping hospitals for improved healthcare delivery.

According to him, the state has also aligned with the Federal Government’s initiative to establish 1,000 businesses in every active INEC ward.

Uzodimma urged labour unions to strengthen their cooperation with the government, while calling on workers to add value to the system and shun unethical practices or redundancy.