Uzodimma raises Imo workers minimum wage to N104,000

A significant development took place in  Imo State Tuesday, August 26, 2025 when Governor Hope Uzodimma approved new increased salary adjustment affecting all categories of workers in the State.

He did during a parley with the organised labour at the Government House Owerri, thereby being the first Governor to set a new salary benchmark in line with  improved revenue allocation to States recently by the Federal Government.

In the new salary arrangement, the minimum wage for government worker in Imo State now stands at N104,000.

The entry point for medical doctors now is N508,000 and the ending point N1.2 million. Other health workers entry point pay is now N108,000 while the ending point will be N803,000 as against N77, 600 and ending point of N502,000 previously.

The new salary scale in the tertiary institution has changed from the previous entry point of N119,000 that terminates at N436,000 to now N222,000 and terminates at N812,000.

The same raise also applies to teachers whose previous pay at entry point was N76,000 and terminates at N275,000, but now stands at N104,000 entry point and N441,000 as end point.

All categories of workers, by the new arrangement, have something to smile about. In other words, all other positions  in the civil service got significant increase as it applies to their respective salary structures.

Governor Uzodimma was also happy to announce that N16 billion had been earmarked for the continuation of payment of gratuity to retirees, spanning 20 years back, which was left unpaid by previous administrations.

He said the payment of the second tranche of gratuity to all verified pensioners should take effect today (Wednesday), and with it, the issue of unpaid gratuity in Imo State would have been brought to an end.

At the meeting, the Governor highlighted the government’s commitment to building a friendly and cordial relationship with the workforce of Imo State, pensioners, and the generality of Imo people.

“We tried as a government to always put it at the back of our mind that there is no how any government will do well if it doesn’t  have a friendly and cordial relationship  with the organised labour; knowing that we have always addressed the labour force as the engine room of government,” he said.

He maintained  that his administration believes in carrying  the bureaucrats along, ensuring that dignity and welfare of workers are restored and promoted.

While acknowledging the economic hardships faced by Nigerians, including increased cost of living following the removal of fuel subsidy,  Governor Uzodimma noted that the State had made significant progress in economic development arising from increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from less than N400million in 2020 to over N3 billion currently, and substantial rise in the Federal Allocation, from N5 billion – N7.5 billion from 2020 to over N13 billion currently.

Other achievements of his administration, he said, include significant reduction  in the State’s debt profile, from N280 billion to less than N100 billion currently, demonstrating effective debt management, as well as heavy investment in critical infrastructure,  health care delivery system and youth empowerment.

He said through frugal management of the resources of the State, the government has not borrowed any money to finance any project in Imo.

The Governor therefore challenged Imo workers  to uphold the dignity of labour, warning that government will not condone indolence and unethical practice.

“If government is paying you, you must work for government. So, we expect the service to come with dignity that is not common. So, we that are making the sacrifice will also have reason to beat our chest to say that at least we did the will of God,” Governor Uzodimma stressed.

To sustain the tempo of cordiality between government and labour and encourage the government to live up to her expectations, the Governor said that going forward, workers in Imo State will be required to “clock-in and clock-out” on a daily basis and that the era of short changing government has finally come to an end.

He warned: “Don’t think after making the sacrifices to pay you well government will allow workers to come to office in the name of resumption only to sign their signature and disappear to Eke Onunwa. We are introducing the clock-in and clock-out card and the time you resume and close will be determined by the process and if at the end of the month the record shows you worked for three hours, that is what you will be paid for. Therefore, I urge the workers to take their responsibility to government seriously.”

Also, the Governor urged the workers to take advantage of the new salary structure to correct issues arising from their next of kin in their data with the government so as to avoid controversy in the event of the inevitable called death.

Arising from that, he also said that the government has introduced a new process of identifying pensioners in Imo State called “I am Alive” and urged all retirees to pass through audit process in their interest.

In their remarks, the Commissioner for Labour, employment  and productivity, Prof Boniface Nworgu and the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmas Iwu pointed out that the Governor’s  gesture has made the workers jobs much easier hence it should and put an end to struggle and agitations by the organised labour.

The labour leaders who could not hold their excitement busted into chanting their solidarity songs to express their overwhelming joy over the new development.

Responding, the Chairman Imo State Chapter of NLC, Comrade Uchechigaemezu Nwigwe could not hide his excitement and happiness and thanked the Governor for always being a friend of the workers.

Nwigwe who assured the Governor that Labour will personally be involved in monitoring the attitude of workers to work, pledged the readiness of the labour leadership always to partner with the government in the interest of a better Imo State.

His colleagues from the Trade Union Congress ( TUC), Comrade Uchenna Ibe, the Nigeria Medical Association ( NMA), Dr. B.U. Echeta also lauded the Governor for the timely intervention in the welfare of their workers and sought for more collaboration.

“You have disarmed us,” the NMA President who hinted they were planning an industrial action before the Governor’s announcement said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Nigerian Union of Pensioners ( NUP), Imo State Chapter, Comrade JB. Ugochukwu said that Governor Uzodimma has proved beyond doubt that he is the best friendly governor for pensioners in Nigeria.

He said that the Governor has, through the payment of gratuity, sustained lives and made millionaires out of the retirees, and prayed Go to grant him long live.

They all thanked the Governor for his magnanimity and pledged the loyalty and support of workers and pensioners.

Present at the meeting were, the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru,  the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly,  Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, his Deputy, Rt. Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu and some of their other members, Commissioners and members of Expanded Executive Council as well as Local Government Areas leadership.