Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has clarified that the state government has not received any funds from the federal government for the implementation of the N35,000 wage award.
He made this statement during a meeting with labor leaders, including the NLC, TUC, and JNC, in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
Otti debunked rumours that the federal government had provided funds to state governments for the wage award, stating that Abia State has not received any such funds, according to Nigerian Tribune.
He also highlighted that the state government has been implementing the minimum wage, with the lowest paid worker receiving N30,000 monthly.
The governor called for a reconciliation between the Organised Labour and the Office of the Accountant General to resolve any discrepancies in the payroll, emphasizing that the state’s payroll indicates compliance with the minimum wage of N30,000.
He said, ”There have been misleading stories all over the place that the federal government gave money to the state governments for the implementation of the wage award.
“Last time I checked, there were no such monies. This state has not received a dime from the federal government to implement any wage award.”
Otti also said that the government has been implementing the minimum wage as the state’s payroll indicates that the least paid worker receives N30,000 as salary every month.
“I see the payroll, and I didn’t see anyone that is paid less than N30,000, and that is the minimum wage.
“Maybe something is wrong, and I’d like the Accountant-General to please look into that because what is available to me shows we are complying with the minimum wage of N30,000 and that the least-paid worker is actually paid N30,000.
“When I read in the media that we are not complying, I took it as a hatchet man’s job, but you repeating it here means something is wrong somewhere.
“I’ll like that a reconciliation happens between the Organised Labour and the Office of the Accountant General,” Otti said.