Delta: Okowa Approves Payment Of New Minimum Wage

Delta state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday approved the implementation of the new minimum wage as approved by the Federal Government in 2019.

This is coming after a series of meetings between the Delta State government and the Labour unions on the new national minimum wage for workers in the state.

The state government also approved the arrears of two months with effect from November 1, 2019.

With the development, Delta State has emerged the sixth state to implement the new minimum wage in the country and the first in the South-South and South-East regions.

Disclosing the cheering news shortly after signing the agreement, the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie and Chairman of the Negotiation Committee said the implementation of the new minimum wage would commence November 1, 2019.

He further disclosed that the state government would commence payment from January as well as settle the arrears of the new minimum wage along with the January and February salaries.

Mr Ebie said the state government’s action is in line with the directive of the National Income and Wages Commission.

He noted that Governor Okowa has always been willing to pay the new Minimum Wage, pointing out that the delay was to address all the issues bordering on the adjustment.

He assured workers in the state that Senator Okowa would continue to prioritise the welfare of workers but enjoined the state workforce to reciprocate government’s gesture by hard work.

Mr Ebie thanked both the government and labour teams for their resilience in making the outcome of the negotiations fruitful.

On his part, the Labour Team Leader and state NLC Chairman, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, and the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Martins Bolum, commended the state government for its transparency and sensitivity during the negotiation exercise.