FIC Report (Abia State) – Abia State Government (ABSG) says it has reached an agreement with the organised labour in the state regarding the payment of the new national minimum wage of N70,000.
The Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while briefing journalists in Umuahia on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
He said that the implementation of the new national minimum wage would equally take effect this October 2024 but would no longer be paid on the 28th of the month as has been the case since the inception of this administration
“The state government and the organized labour have reached an amicable settlement with regards to the issue of the payment of the new minimum wage.
“The payment of the new minimum wage will still happen this October. It might be a bit difficult to commence today (28/10/2024) because the negotiations ended in the early hours of today.
“Rest assured that those payments will be made before the end of the month as promised by the state Governor.” Prince Kanu stated.
Prince Okey Kanu said said that the Local Government elections conducted by the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) would still hold this weekend, 2nd November 2024 as scheduled.
He announced that consequently, workers would work for a half day on Friday, 1st November 2024 to enable them travel to their respective registration centres to participate in the elections. He also added that details of the restriction of movement during the elections would be disclosed prior to the day of election.
“The Friday preceding the elections, work will end by 12 noon to enable workers travel to their communities to participate fully in the elections.”
The Commissioner disclosed that the “Ten Million Know Your Number”, “Control Your Number” programme which is a national health programme for the free screening of diabetes and hypertension has kicked off in Abia State Monday 28 October 2024 and would last till the 5th of November 2024.
According to the Commissioner, a total number of 223,847 Abians are expected to be screened during the exercise which is aimed at creating awareness about the diseases.
“It is a national programme and it is intended to screen ten million Nigerians.
“They want to screen people to ascertain how healthy they are because a lot of people die silently as a result of hypertension and diabetes.
“This programme offers Abians opportunity to get screened for free.”
“By this announcement Abians are encouraged to show up at the venues where the screening exercise is taking place.
The State Information boss informed that the old Nnamdi Azikiwe Secretariat has been rehabilitated and retrofitted after five years of abandonment by the previous administration. The building would be commissioned in two weeks’ time by Governor Alex Otti.
He equally announced that Abia State Government would participate in the forthcoming burial ceremonies of two prominent Igbo sons who will be laid to rest on the 2nd and 8th of November, 2024 respectively. Chief Dr Emmanuel lwuanyanwu, the immediate past President-General ,of Ohanaeze Ndigbo will be laid to rest at his Atta, ikeduru home, Imo state. He was aged 82 years.
On the other hand, late Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu CON ,will be buried on 8th of November, 2024 at Uburu, Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State.
He further informed that Abia State Government would hold an interdenominational service in honour of late Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu on the 7th of November 2024 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and other government officials were present at the briefing.
Signed
Abiakam Gloria Ifeyinwa
HOC. FIC, Umuahia, Abia State.
