Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has approved the implementation of a new minimum wage of ₦70,000 for civil servants within the state.

During a press briefing at the New Government House in Abakaliki, the Governor clarified that this ₦70,000 minimum wage should not be interpreted as a salary increase.

He emphasized that this figure represents the minimum amount any worker will receive rather than applying to the entire workforce.

Additionally, he instructed the State Head of Service to develop the necessary procedures for the disbursement of the new minimum wage.

“There’s a difference between minimum wage and salary increment. The minimum wage is not a salary increment. It’s not as if ₦70,000 is going to be topped on everybody’s salary; it’s not possible; that’s not what minimum wage is all about. The new minimum wage means that a worker gets the lowest salary.

“The new minimum wage act is bidding on everybody, Ebonyi State government will pay the ₦70,000 new minimum wage, as from the day the Head of Service and the civil servants agree on the formula and present it to me, then we will pay,” the Ebonyi State Governor noted.

Nwifuru also restated his commitment to adhere strictly to the Supreme Court ruling on Financial autonomy for Local government councils.

“Ebonyi state government will obey the Supreme Court ruling on Local government financial autonomy because as it stands today as a Governor, I can’t remember a day, I touched Local government resources or funds, I have never done that”.

“We have conducted Local government election. We are going to implement the ruling of the Supreme Court by allowing the local governments to manage their finances and execute the projects they want to execute”, he added.