FIC Report (Abia State) – Abia state government says it will commence the payment of minimum wage to its workers from the month of October, 2024, baring any unforeseen circumstances.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while briefing journalists in Government House, Umuahia on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
According to the Commissioner, “This in part underscores the government ‘s commitment to workers welfare and the fulfillment of the promise of His Excellency, the Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti OFR to Abia workers.
“The payment of this minimum wage is in line with the broader agenda of the Federal Government. However, the state government has designed, it to cut across all categories of workers,” Kanu stated.
Prince Okey Kanu also said that the government in its bid to strengthen the administration of justice in the State would soon commence the construction of 17 court halls across the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State.
He said that the flag-off ceremony to that effect would hold in less than two weeks’ time, adding that, “This is another milestone achievement of the state government that is geared towards ensuring that the process of administration of justice is not impeded in any way in the State.”
He disclosed that Governor Alex Otti would on the 2nd of October, 2024 flag off the construction of the 19.1 kilometres Itungwa -Amaise-Mgboko-Ahaba -Ubi-Nkwo-Elechi pilot road under the Rural Agricultural Access Marketing Project (RAAMP). The road according to the Commissioner cuts across Isialangwa South and Obingwa LGAs.
“This is road that will benefit a lot of communities along that corridor and described it as a jinx broken over the RAAMP project in Abia state following the inability of past administrations in the state to get the project off the line.
In the same vein, the Commissioner informed journalists that the State Ministry of Health would on Wednesday, 25th of September organise a free medical outreach at the SDG Multi-purpose Hospital, Ugwunagbo. He added that during the outreach there would be free medical consultation services, maternal and child healthcare services, free diagnostic test and minor surgeries and disclosed that the wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti will flag-off the event.
He added that the enrollment of women, children and the elderly into the basic plan of Abia state health insurance scheme would also take place at the event.
He used the opportunity to announce that Abia State candidates performed creditably by getting the best over all result in the country in the NECO result released recently and attributed the success of the candidates to the outcome of the current reform initiatives of the state government in the education sector.
The state Information boss revealed that the Governor would soon host the Abia State para-olympic contingent that did the state proud at the recently concluded para-olympic games held at Paris, France. He stressed that, “of particular note is Miss Onyinyechi Mark , who won a gold medal in the 61kg category. Also to be fetted with her is Miss Esther Nwaorgu who won a silver in the 41kg class.
Also, speaking the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Nwaobilor Ananaba narrated other successes so far achieved by the present administration in sports particular the winning of medals and identification of talents through the Governor Alex Otti secondary school games competition that took place early this year.
He further disclosed that six players identified from the games have already travelled to Hungary to continue training, stressing that, “We (Abia State Government) are doing what we set out to do. We are intentional in what we are doing.'”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha were present at the briefing.
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC, ABIA
