Governor Wike approves N30,000 Minimum Wage

… Not clear if there will be arrears

… Labour bargain for April 2019 commencement, State government insists January 2020 as budget could afford

Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has approved the payment of N30,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the state.

In a Government House Press Statement signed by Paulinus Nsirim, Commissioner of Information and Communications said the approval is sequel to what was endorsed by the Federal Government.

It was however silent about the commencement date or whether there will be arrears.

Our Correspondent learnt that, while the organized Labour in state are bargaining for the commencement date of payment to take effect from April 2019 when the President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Minimum Wage Bill into Law, the state government argued that it would start from January 2020 so that this year’s budget can foot the bill.

It wasn’t clear at the time of filing this report the clear middle ground after weeks of intense negotiations.